Altered interferon-γ response in patients with Q-fever fatigue syndrome.
J Infect
; 72(4): 478-85, 2016 Apr.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-26820634
OBJECTIVES: Whether immunological mechanisms underlie Q-fever fatigue syndrome (QFS) remains unclear. For acute Q-fever, the antigen-specific interferon-γ (IFNγ) response may be a useful tool for diagnosis, and the IFNγ/interleukin(IL)-2 production ratio may be a marker for chronic Q-fever and treatment monitoring. Here we explored the specific IFNγ production and IFNγ/IL-2 ratio in QFS patients. METHODS: IFNγ and IL-2 production were tested in ex-vivo stimulated whole blood of QFS patients (n = 20), and compared to those previously determined in seropositive controls (n = 135), and chronic Q-fever patients (n = 28). Also, the correlation between patient characteristics and IFNγ, IL-2, and IFNγ/IL-2 ratio was determined. RESULTS: QFS patients were younger (p < 0.001), but gender distribution was similar to seropositive controls and chronic Q-fever patients. Coxiella burnetii Nine Mile stimulation revealed a higher IFNγ production in QFS (median 319.5 pg/ml) than in seropositive controls (120 pg/ml, p < 0.01), but comparable to chronic Q-fever (2846 pg/ml). The IFNγ/IL-2 ratio was similar to that in seropositive controls, but lower than in chronic Q-fever patients (p < 0.01). Symptom duration was positively correlated with IL-2 production, and negatively correlated with the IFNγ/IL-2 ratio. CONCLUSIONS: These results point to an altered cell-mediated immunity in QFS, and suggest a different immune response than in chronic Q-fever.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Febre Q
/
Interferon gama
Tipo de estudo:
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2016
Tipo de documento:
Article