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. 2024 Jan 12:17:211-222.
doi: 10.2147/JIR.S444398. eCollection 2024.

Changes in Cytokine Levels in Patients with Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus

Da-Li Xu  1 , Xiao-Mei Zhang  2 , Xue-Ying Tian  2 , Xian-Jun Wang  2 , Lin Zhao  1 , Meng-Ying Gao  1 , Lian-Feng Li  1 , Jia-Qi Zhao  1 , Wu-Chun Cao #  1   3 , Shu-Jun Ding #  2
Affiliations

Changes in Cytokine Levels in Patients with Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus

Da-Li Xu et al. J Inflamm Res. .

Abstract

Purpose: To characterize the cytokine profile of patients with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) in relation to disease severity.

Patients and methods: 60 laboratory-confirmed SFTS patients and 12 healthy individuals from multi-centers in Shandong Province of China were included, and all patients were divided into fatal patients (9) and recovered patients (51) due to their final outcomes. Multiplex-microbead immunoassays were conducted to estimate levels of 27 cytokines in the sera of patients and controls.

Results: The results showed that levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-15, IL-1RA, G-CSF, GM-CSF, IFN-γ, TNF-α, basic FGF, PDGF-BB, RANTES, IP-10, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, MCP-1, and Eotaxin differed significantly among the SFTS fatal patients, recovered patients, and the healthy controls (all p<0.05). Compared to the healthy controls, the fatal patients and recovered patients had reduced levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, PDGF-BB, RANTES, and Eotaxin, while the levels of PDGF-BB and RANTES were significantly lower in fatal patients compared to recovered patients. The increasing levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-15, IL-1RA, G-CSF, GM-CSF, IFN-γ, TNF-α, basic FGF, IP-10, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, and MCP-1 were observed in fatal patients (all p<0.05), and the levels of IL-6, IP-10, MIP-1α, and MCP-1 were significantly higher than other two groups. The Spearman correlation analysis indicated a positive correlation between platelet count and PDGF-BB levels (p<0.05), while the white blood cell count had a negative correlation with MIP-1 level (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The research exhibited that the SFTS virus (SFTSV) caused an atypical manifestation of cytokines. The levels of IL-6, IP-10, MIP-1α, and MCP-1 had been observed a positive association with the severity of the illness.

Keywords: SFTS; SFTSV; correlation analysis; cytokines; fatal patients.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Comparison of cytokine production in SFTS patients and healthy individuals.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Comparison of cytokine levels in fatal, nonfatal patients and healthy people.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Cytokine levels at different phases.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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