This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Copyright Information
Right arrow Books from ASM Press
Right arrow MicrobeWorld
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Westenbrink, B. D.
Right arrow Articles by van der Werf, T. S.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Westenbrink, B. D.
Right arrow Articles by van der Werf, T. S.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology, January 2005, p. 125-129, Vol. 12, No. 1
1071-412X/05/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/CDLI.12.1.125-129.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Cytokine Responses to Stimulation of Whole Blood from Patients with Buruli Ulcer Disease in Ghana

B. Daan Westenbrink,1 Ymkje Stienstra,1 Minke G. Huitema,2 William A. Thompson,3 Erasmus O. Klutse,4 Edwin O. Ampadu,5 H. Marike Boezen,6 Piet C. Limburg,2 and Tjip S. van der Werf1*

Department of Internal Medicine,1 Laboratory of Clinical Immunology,2 Epidemiology, Groningen University Medical Centre, Groningen, The Netherlands,6 Agogo Hospital, Ashanti-Akim-North District, Ashanti Region,3 Dunkwa Hospital, Upper Denkyira District, Central Region,4 Ministries of Health, National Program for Buruli Ulcer, Accra, Ghana5

Received 24 August 2004/ Returned for modification 18 October 2004/ Accepted 27 October 2004

Buruli ulcer disease (BUD), caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, follows an indolent course of initial progression to ulceration accompanied by extensive tissue damage. It has been suggested that healing disease stages are accompanied by a protective immune response. We hypothesized that interleukin-4 (IL-4)- or IL-10-induced downregulation of Th-1 responses plays a key role in the progression of early BUD and that healing is accompanied by an augmented Th-1 response. Gamma interferon (IFN-{gamma}), IL-4, and IL-10 responses were measured after in vitro stimulation with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD) of whole blood from 39 (23 early- and 16 late-stage) BUD patients and 39 healthy control subjects in Ghana. Additionally, 30 patients with active or treated tuberculosis (TB) serving as PPD-responsive positive controls were studied. Early-stage BUD patients produced significantly lower levels of IFN and IFN-{gamma}/IL-4 ratios compared to late-stage BUD patients after PHA stimulation. Compared to that of controls, IFN-{gamma} production after tuberculin stimulation was significantly higher in late-stage but not in early-stage BUD patients (P = 0.009). IL-10 and IL-4 levels did not differ between BUD patients and controls, although active TB patients had significantly higher IL-10 production levels than did treated TB patients. Multivariate analysis showed no confounding factors. In conclusion, Th-1 down regulation in early BUD appears to reverse in later stages of BUD, although an association with IL-10 or IL-4 production does not emerge from our data. Here we show differences in Th-1-type cytokine production between early- and late-stage BUD that might reflect an improved immune defense over time.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Intensive & Respiratory Care Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Groningen University Hospital, P.O. Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands. Phone: 31-50-3611501. Fax: 31-50-3614316. E-mail: t.s.van.der.werf{at}int.azg.nl.

Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology, January 2005, p. 125-129, Vol. 12, No. 1
1071-412X/05/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/CDLI.12.1.125-129.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Oliveira, M. S., Fraga, A. G., Torrado, E., Castro, A. G., Pereira, J. P., Filho, A. L., Milanezi, F., Schmitt, F. C., Meyers, W. M., Portaels, F., Silva, M. T., Pedrosa, J. (2005). Infection with Mycobacterium ulcerans Induces Persistent Inflammatory Responses in Mice. Infect. Immun. 73: 6299-6310 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


Copyright © 2009 by the American Society for Microbiology.   For an alternate route to Journals.ASM.org, visit: http://intl-journals.asm.org | More Info»