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Persistent symptoms in former UNTAC soldiers are not associated with shifted cytokine balance
Author(s) -
Patricia M.M.B. Soetekouw,
M. de Vries,
Frank Preijers,
Reinout van Crevel,
Gijs Bleijenberg,
J.W.M. van der Meer
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
european journal of clinical investigation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.164
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1365-2362
pISSN - 0014-2972
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2362.1999.00545.x
Subject(s) - phytohaemagglutinin , cytokine , proinflammatory cytokine , immunology , endocrinology , medicine , stimulation , interferon gamma , inflammation
Background The pathogenesis of post‐combat syndromes, such as Gulf War syndrome, is poorly understood. Recently, it has been postulated that the symptoms of veterans with such syndromes are due to a disturbed cytokine balance shifted towards a T‐helper (Th) 2 profile. We investigated this hypothesis in 21 symptomatic former UNTAC soldiers and compared their results with those obtained in 21 healthy former UNTAC soldiers matched for age, sex and military force. Design The numbers of intracellular interleukin 4 (IL‐4) and interferon gamma‐ (IFN‐γ) producing CD4 + and CD8 + T lymphocytes (CD3 + ) were determined after in vitro stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate and calcium ionophore in the presence of brefeldin to block secretion of induced cytokines. Circulating concentrations and lipopolysaccharide‐ (LPS) or phytohaemagglutinin‐ (PHA) stimulated whole‐blood production of the proinflammatory cytokines IL‐1β, IL‐1ra, tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α) and IL‐10 and IFN‐γ were measured. Results The numbers of CD4 + and CD8 + T lymphocytes positive for IL‐4 or IFN‐γ production were not significantly different in patients and control subjects. After stimulation with LPS or PHA, the in vivo circulating concentration and concentration of IL‐10 and IFN‐γ were also similar. Conclusions The present study demonstrates that there is no shift in cytokine balance towards a Th2 profile in former UNTAC soldiers with symptoms similar to those of the Gulf War syndrome.