Original Research Article
Year: 2017 | Month: February | Volume: 7 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 1-8
Cytokine and Chemokine Responses Influencing the Outcome of Japanese Encephalitis in Paediatric Age Group
Gitali Kakoti1*, Prafulla Dutta2**, Bishnu Ram Das3*
1Former Women Scientist-A, DST, 2Scientist ‘G’, Director Grade Scientist, 3Prof & Head,
*Department of Community Medicine, Jorhat Medical College, Jorhat-785001, Assam, India
**Regional Medical Research Centre, ICMR, Northeast Region, Post Box no. 105, Dibrugarh, Assam, India
Corresponding Author: Gitali Kakoti
ABSTRACT
The role of early innate and cellular immune response in determining the outcome of Japanese Encephalitis Virus infection is yet to be fully understood. An attempt was made to understand the immunological response to Japanese Encephalitis Virus infection in influencing the outcome variables.
Methods: Cytometric Bead Array (CBA) Human Flex set (BD Biosciences, San Jose, CA) were used for estimation of levels of four cytokines (IL-4, IL-6, IFN-γ and TNF-α) and two chemokines ( IL-8 and RANTES) as per manufacturer’s instructions.
Results: Of the biomolecules examined we found RANTES in 92%, INF-γ in 88%, IL-8 in 84% and IL-6 in 80% of CSF samples. Similarly 91 % of acute serum samples were confirmed for presence of IL-8 and IL-6. In acute serum samples the level of proinflammatory chemokine IL-8 was significantly higher in study subjects who developed disability in comparison to those who recovered completely. We also witnessed significantly higher level of TNF-α in CSF who recovered completely than the children who recovered with disability. A significantly higher level of IL-6 was found in 1-5 years age group compared to age group of 5-12 years.
Conclusions: The overall objective of this research work was to address the fundamental issues that underlie the immunological responses of JE in children. The immunological findings of our study corroborate that cytokines and chemokines play a decisive role in outcome of Japanese encephalitis infection. Present research findings have opened the possibility to work further on immunological response of this most cripple disease in children.
Key words: Cytokine, Chemokine, Japanese encephalitis virus, Immune response, Interleukin