Increased T regulatory cells and decreased Th1 pro-inflammatory cytokines correlate with culture-positive infection in febrile neutropenia childhood oncology patients
Date
2011
Authors
Hodge, G.
Scott, J.
Osborn, M.
To, L.
Zola, H.
Hodge, S.
Revesz, T.
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Journal article
Citation
Cytokine, 2011; 53(3):286-288
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G. Hodge, J. Scott, M. Osborn, L.B. To, H. Zola, S. Hodge, T. Revesz
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Abstract
<h4>Background</h4>Paediatric oncology patients with febrile neutropenia are usually hospitalised and treated with empirical broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy to counter the risk of infection. However, there is currently no method available to rapidly identify bacteremia in these patients. T-helper-type-1 (Th1) cytokines are required for effective immune response to many pathogenic organisms and T regulatory cells are known suppressors of Th1 cells. We hypothesized that characterization of reduced intracellular Th1 cytokines and increased T regulatory cells (Tregs) may prove useful in identifying infection in childhood oncology patients with febrile neutropenia.<h4>Methods</h4>Intracellular Th 1 cytokines and Tregs were enumerated in peripheral blood from a group of childhood oncology patients with febrile neutropenia using multiparameter flow cytometry.<h4>Results</h4>There was a significant increase in the percentage of CD25(+) CD127(-) CD8(-) CD3(+) Tregs and a significant decrease in Th1 intracellular cytokines IFNγ, IL-2 and TNFα in the blood of culture positive patients compared with culture negative patients.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Enumeration of Tregs and intracellular Th1 cytokines may provide a sensitive, specific test for determining infection in childhood oncology patients before blood culture results become available.
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Crown copyright © 2010 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.