Cytokine Production by Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in Human Coccidioidomycosis

• Published in: The Journal of infectious diseases Vol. 174; no. 2; pp. 440 - 443
• Main Authors: Corry, David B., Ampel, Neil M., Christian, Lara, Locksley, Richard M., Galgiani, John N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL The University of Chicago Press 01.08.1996; University of Chicago Press; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Antigens; Base Sequence; Biological and medical sciences; coccidioides immitis; Coccidioidomycosis; Coccidioidomycosis - immunology; Complementary DNA; Concise Communications; Cytokines; Cytokines - biosynthesis; Cytokines - genetics; Disease models; Fungal infections; Human mycoses; Humans; Infections; Infectious diseases; Interferon-gamma - biosynthesis; Interferon-gamma - genetics; Interleukins - biosynthesis; Interleukins - genetics; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - metabolism; Medical sciences; Messenger RNA; Molecular Sequence Data; Mycoses; Mycoses of the respiratory system; Peripheral blood mononuclear cells; Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger - analysis; Human; Mycosis; Interleukin; Cytokine; Blood; Infection; Polymerase chain reaction; Mononuclear cell; Messenger RNA; Coccidioidomycosis; Analysis; Disseminated; Molecular biology; Gamma interferon
• ISSN: 0022-1899; 1537-6613
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/174.2.440

The production and mRNA expression of the cytokines interferon-γ (IFN-γ) 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-y 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-γ 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.