Specific in vitro interferon-gamma and IL-2 production as biomarkers during treatment of chronic Q fever

Frontiers in Microbiology

Marjolijn J.H. Pronk¹  Yvonne E.P. Soethoudt²  Marjolijn C. Wegdam-Blans³  Mihai G. Netea⁴  Marcel evan Deuren⁴  Jos WM Van Der Meer⁴  Anne eAmmerdorffer⁴  Teske eSchoffelen⁴  Chantal P. Bleeker-Rovers⁴ 

[1] Catharina Hospital;Elkerliek Hospital;Laboratory for Pathology and Medical Microbiology (PAMM);Radboud University Medical Center;

关键词: Coxiella burnetii;    Interferon-gamma;    Interleukin-2;    Q Fever;    Serology;    biomarker;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fmicb.2015.00093

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Background: Antibiotic treatment of chronic Q fever is cumbersome and of long duration. To monitor treatment, there is a the need for alternative biomarkers. C. burnetii-specific interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-2 production reflect the type of effector and memory T-cell response. In chronic Q fever, C. burnetii-specific IFN-γ production is higher and IL-2 production is lower than in individuals with past Q fever. Here we explore whether C. burnetii-specific IFN-γ and IL-2 production correlate to treatment response.Methods: We studied the longitudinal C. burnetii-specific IFN-γ/IL-2 ratio in fifteen proven chronic Q fever patients. All patients were followed for at least 18 months during antibiotic treatment. Treatment was considered successful when clinical recovery was observed, a positive PCR for C. burnetii DNA in blood became persistently negative, anti-phase I IgG showed a fourfold decrease or more, and imaging techniques showed disappearance of infectious foci.Results: Overall, the IFN-γ/IL-2 ratio declined when patients experienced a successful treatment outcome. When treatment failed, IFN-γ/IL-2 ratios did not significantly decrease. The median(±IQR) slope of the longitudinal IFN-γ/IL-2 ratio with successful treatment was -2.10 (-7.02 to -0.06), and -0.15 (-1.13 to 0.25) with unsuccessful treatment (P=0.19). Q fever endocarditis patients had higher IFN-γ/IL-2 ratios than patients with endovascular infections.Conclusions: We propose that the IFN-γ/IL-2 ratio can be used as an additional biomarker for monitoring chronic Q fever treatment, with declining ratios being indicative of successful treatment.

【 授权许可】

Unknown