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. 2012;7(7):e41365.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0041365. Epub 2012 Jul 24.

Cytokine and chemokine levels in patients with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus

Baocheng Deng  1 , Shujun Zhang, Yingzhi Geng, Yuzhong Zhang, Yuncheng Wang, Wenqing Yao, Ying Wen, Wei Cui, Ying Zhou, Qiuhong Gu, Wen Wang, Yu Wang, Zhen Shao, Yanli Wang, Chengbo Li, Donglei Wang, Yitong Zhao, Pei Liu
Affiliations

Cytokine and chemokine levels in patients with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus

Baocheng Deng et al. PLoS One. 2012.

Abstract

Background: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV), which can cause hemorrhagic fever-like illness, is a newly discovered bunyavirus in China. The pathogenesis of SFTSV infection is poorly understood. However, it has been suggested that immune mechanisms, including cytokines and chemokines, play an important role in disease pathogenesis. In the present study, we investigated host cytokine and chemokine profiles in serum samples of patients with SFTSV infection from Northeast China and explored a possible correlation between cytokine levels and disease severity.

Methods and principal findings: Acute phase serum samples from 40 patients, diagnosed with SFTSV infection were included. Patients were divided into two groups--severe or non-severe--based on disease severity. Levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, interleukin-6, interferon (IFN)-γ, IFN- γ-induced protein (IP)-10 and RANTES were measured in the serum samples with commercial ELISAs. Statistical analysis showed that increases in TNF-α, IP-10 and IFN-γ were associated with disease severity.

Conclusions: We suggest that a cytokine-mediated inflammatory response, characterized by cytokine and chemokine production imbalance, might be in part responsible for the disease progression of patients with SFTSV infection.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Levels of cytokines (pg/mL) and chemokines (pg/mL) were determined as described and only those with a P value of <0.05 are illustrated.
Box plots illustrating the significant differences of TNF-α, IL-6, IFN-γ and RANTES in SFTS patients and healthy controls.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Box plots illustrating the significant differences of TNF-α, IP-10 and IFN-γ in non-severe and severe patients with SFTSV infection and IP-10 in non-pneumonia and pneumonia patients with SFTSV infection.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Correlations between variables were assessed using the Pearson test.
P<0.05 was considered significant. Symbols and colors: red diamonds, severe patients; blue circles, non-severe patients.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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