Cerebral and ocular toxoplasmosis related with IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and IL-10 levels

Author(s)

Meira, Cristina S. ^[1] ; Pereira-Chioccola, Vera L. ^[1] ; Vidal, Jose E. ^[2] ; Brandao de Mattos, Cinara C. ^[3] ; Motoie, Gabriela ^[1] ; Costa-Silva, Thais A. ^[1] ; Gava, Ricardo ^[1] ; Frederico, Fabio B. ^[4] ; de Mattos, Luiz C. ^[3] ; Grp, Toxoplasma

Affiliation

^[1] Adolfo Lutz Inst, Ctr Parasitol & Micol, BR-01246902 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Inst Infectiol Emilio Ribas, Dept Neurol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Fac Med Sao Jose do Rio Preto, Dept Biol Mol, Lab Imunogenet, Sao Jose Do Rio Preto, SP - Brazil

^[4] Fundacao Fac Reg Med, Hosp Base, Ambulatorio Oftalmol, Sao Jose Do Rio Preto, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY; v. 5, OCT 13 2014.
• Web of Science Citations: 25

Abstract

This study analyzed the synthesis of Interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and Interleukin 10 (IL-10) in chronically infected patients which developed the symptomatic disease as cerebral or ocular toxoplasmosis. Blood from 61 individuals were divided into four groups: Cerebral toxoplasmosis/AIDS patients (CT/AIDS group) (n = 15), ocular toxoplasmosis patients (OT group) (n = 23), chronic toxoplasmosis individuals (CHR group) (n = 13) and healthy individuals (HI group) (n = 10). OT, CHR, and HI groups were human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seronegative. The diagnosis was made by laboratorial (PCR and ELISA) and clinical subjects. For cytokine determination, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of each patient were isolated and stimulated in vitro with T gondii antigen. IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and IL-10 activities were determined by ELISA. Patients from CT/AIDS and OT groups had low levels of IFN-gamma when were compared with those from CHR group. These data suggest the low resistance to develop ocular lesions by the low ability to produce IFN-gamma against the parasite. The same patients, which developed ocular or cerebral toxoplasmosis had higher TNF-alpha levels than CH R individuals. High TNF-alpha synthesis contribute to the inflammatory response and damage of the choroid and retina in OT patients and in AIDS patients caused a high inflammatory response as the TNF-alpha synthesis is not affected since monocytes are the major source this cytokine in response to soluble T gondii antigens. IL-10 levels were almost similar in CT/AIDS and OT patients but low when compared with CHR individuals. The deviation to Th2 immune response including the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-10 may promote the parasite's survival causing the tissue immune destruction. IL-10 production in T gondii-infected brains may support the persistence of parasites as down-regulating the intracerebral immune response. All these indicate that OT and CT/AIDS patients produced low levels of IL-10 (Th2 response) and IFN-gamma (Th1 response). They produced high TNF-alpha suggesting a high inflammatory response triggered by the parasite. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/10050-5 - Serological, molecular and images in patients with active lesions or acute relapse of ocular infection by Toxoplasma gondii: a study follow-up
• Grantee: Mariana Previato
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• FAPESP's process: 11/13939-8 - Study of a group of fungal and parasitic infections aiming the improvement of techniques of characterization and immune-molecular diagnosis
• Grantee: Vera Lúcia Pereira Chioccola
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 09/17540-2 - Histo blood groups like risk factor for ocular toxoplasmosis
• Grantee: Luiz Carlos de Mattos
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 09/09168-6 - Toxoplasma gondii excreted-secreted antigens (ESA): Analysis of infected host immune response
• Grantee: Cristina da Silva Meira Strejevitch
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate