Direct correlation between Th1 and Th17 responses in immunity to Brucella infection

This study aimed to evaluate the peripheral distributions of Th1 and Th17 cells and serum levels of IFN-γ, IL-17A and IL-22 cytokines in brucellosis patients. One hundred patients (36 acute, 41 under-treatment and 23 relapsed) and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included. The frequencies of Th1 and Th17 cells were determined by flow cytometric analysis. Serum levels of IFN-γ, IL-17A and IL-22 were measured by multi-analyte flow assay. Increased frequencies of Th1 and Th17 cells were observed in acute and relapsed brucellosis versus under-treatment patients and healthy controls (P<0.05). The mean serum levels of IFN-γ were significantly elevated in acute and relapsed groups compared to under-treatment patients (P=0.002 and P=0.01 respectively). Acute patients showed higher levels of IL-22 than under-treatment (P=0.008). Direct correlations were found between increased frequencies of Th1 and Th17 cells in acute and relapsed patients (P=0.007 and P=0.001 respectively) and between IL-17A and IL-22 in both groups of patients. Our findings indicate a cooperative role for Th1 and Th17 cells in immunity to brucellosis which is more evident during acute and relapse phases of brucellosis.
Source: Microbes and Infection - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research