Open AccessDetermination of intracellular cytokines produced by Th1 and Th2 cells using flow cytometry in patients with brucellosis
Author(s) -
Akbulut H. Handan,
Kilic S. Sirri,
Bulut Vedat,
Ozden Mehmet
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1016/j.femsim.2005.04.001
Subject(s) - brucellosis , cd3 , cd8 , immunology , medicine , flow cytometry , gastroenterology , interferon gamma , interferon , cytokine , biology , immune system
The aim of the study was to evaluate intracellular interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ), and interleukin‐4 (IL‐4) levels in pre‐ and post‐treatment periods of brucellosis patients and to determine the relationship between these parameters and patients’ clinical findings. Twenty‐five patients diagnosed as brucellosis and 11 aged‐matched healthy volunteers were included in the study. CD3 + CD4 + T lymphocytes levels were significantly lower in patients with brucellosis as compared to the control group. CD3 + CD8 + T lymphocytes and CD3 + IFN‐γ + levels were increased in brucellosis patients compared with the control group. CD4 + IFN‐γ + and CD4 + IL‐4 + levels were no different between patients and healthy individuals. CD3 + IL‐4 + levels decreased in patients compared with healthy controls. Pre‐treatment CD3 + IFN‐γ + levels dramatically increased in patients responsive to management compared with the unresponsive ones. In responsive cases, CD3 + IFN‐γ + levels decreased statistically after the treatment while in unresponsive cases no meaningful change was observed with respect to treatment. Adding IFN‐γ to the treatment for improving the depleted levels of IFN‐γ can be beneficial in patients with brucellosis who shows a tendency to chronicity or patients who do not respond to the treatment.