A preliminary study on the characteristics of Th1/Th2 immune response in cerebrospinal fluid of AIDS patients with cryptococcal meningitis

BMC Infectious Diseases

Jiming Yin¹  Wen Wang²  Aixin Li²  Wei Hua²  Hao Wu²  Lili Dai²  Lijun Sun²  Tong Zhang²  Xiaojie Huang²  Wenjiao Zhu³ 

[1] Beijing Institute of Hepatology, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, 100069, Beijing, China;Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, 100069, Beijing, China;Department of Dermatology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, 266003, Qingdao, China;

关键词: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome;    Cryptococcus;    Cryptococcal meningitis;    Cerebrospinal fluid;    Cytokines;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12879-021-06138-z

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundCryptococcal Meningitis (CM) is a common opportunistic infection in the late stage of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Despite the wide use of effective antiretroviral and antifungal therapy in AIDS patients, CM is still a major morbidity and mortality cause. Understanding the immune response in cryptococcal infection may help to improve the treatment strategies.MethodsWe established a prospective cohort of twelve AIDS patients with CM (HIV + CM+) admitted to the hospital from 2019 to 2020. All patients were examined at the baseline, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks thereafter. The level of 19 cytokines in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were recorded to analyze the characteristics and dynamic changes of Th1/Th2 immune response. Meanwhile, six AIDS patients without CM (HIV + CM-) and seventeen healthy subjects (HIV-CM-) were included as control groups for CSF assessment.ResultsThe HIV+ CM+ group had higher CSF IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12 (P40), IL-15, IL-18, CCL2 levels but lower IL-4 when compared with the HIV-CM- group at baseline. And they also had a higher level of IL-12 (P40) and IL-17A compared with HIV + CM- patients. Except one patient dropped out of the study, eleven HIV + CM+ patients received induction antifungal therapy and regular CSF testing, and the mortality rate was 9.1% (1/11) and 18.2% (2/11) respectively at week 2 and week 4. Compared with baseline CSF cytokines, IL-2, IL-13, IL-17A, and VEGF-A decreased in week 2, and the VEGF-A levels further decreased in week 4. But there was no difference in the levels of all cytokines between survivors and the dead.ConclusionNo evidence of Th1/Th2 imbalance was found in AIDS patients with CM. However, the CSF cytokine network may provide new clues for the treatment of AIDS patients with CM.Trial registrationThis trial was prospectively registered in 2019.7.16. The registered number is ChiCTR1900024565.

【 授权许可】

CC BY