Cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in human coccidioidomycosis

J Infect Dis. 1996 Aug;174(2):440-3. doi: 10.1093/infdis/174.2.440.

Abstract

The production and mRNA expression of the cytokines interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin (IL)-4, -10, and -12 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) after incubation with the coccidioidal antigen toluene spherule lysate (TSL) from various subjects were measured. The IFN-gamma concentration in PBMC supernatants incubated for 72 h from 8 subjects with disseminated coccidioidomycosis was significantly less than that from 7 healthy, coccidioidal-immune subjects (P = .015). No differences were seen among the subject groups in the concentrations of IL-4, -10, or -12. By use of competitive polymerase chain reaction, PBMC from subjects with disseminated coccidioidomycosis also expressed less mRNA for IFN-gamma and IL-12 than did cells from healthy, immune subjects. These data suggest that patients with disseminated coccidioidomycosis have a diminished T helper lymphocyte type 1 response.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Coccidioidomycosis / immunology*
  • Cytokines / biosynthesis*
  • Cytokines / genetics
  • Humans
  • Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis
  • Interferon-gamma / genetics
  • Interleukins / biosynthesis
  • Interleukins / genetics
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / metabolism*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Interleukins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Interferon-gamma