Cytokine and chemokine signatures of steady-state sickle cell disease in African children: a cross-sectional study

BMC Immunology

卷:27

Research

Emmanuel Alote Allotey^1,2,3  David Adedia⁴  Jones Amo Amponsah⁵  Adjoa Agyemang Boakye⁶  Augustina Frimpong⁵  Jones Gyamfi^3,7  Elorm Ninsin⁶  Hayford Offei⁶  Henrietta Kwansa-Bentum⁶  Grace Semabia Kpeli⁶  John K. A. Tetteh⁵  Kokou Hefoume Amegan-Aho^8,9  Peter Wisdom Atadja⁶  Lydia Mosi^1,2  Kwabena Obeng Duedu^6,10 

[1] Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Basic and Biomedical Sciences, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana

[2] Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana

[3] Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana

[4] Department of Basic Sciences, School of Basic and Biomedical Sciences, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana

[5] Department of Paediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana

[6] School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, UK

[7] Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana

[8] Department of Life and Sport Sciences, Birmingham City University, City South Campus, Birmingham, UK

[9] West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana

[10] Department of Child Health, Ho Teaching Hospital, Ho, Ghana

关键词: Cytokines;    Inflammation;    Sickle Cell Disease;    Children;    Haemoglobin;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12865-026-00872-2

 received in 2026-03-06, accepted in 2026-06-16,  发布年份 2026

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundSickle cell disease (SCD) is characterized by chronic inflammation, yet the inflammatory landscape defining the clinically defined steady state remains poorly characterized, particularly in African populations where the disease burden is highest. Understanding baseline cytokine and chemokine signatures during the steady state is important for distinguishing physiological disease equilibrium from transitions toward acute complications.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study of 129 children aged 2–17 years in Ghana, including 63 children with SCD in steady state and 66 healthy controls. Serum concentrations of 23 cytokines and chemokines were quantified using multiplex immunoassays alongside full blood count parameters. Comparative analyses and cytokine ratio assessments were performed to characterize steady-state SCD inflammatory signatures.ResultsMost pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines were significantly elevated in children with SCD compared with controls. However, IL-12p70 and IL-23p40 levels were significantly reduced in the SCD cohort, while CCL2 and IL-1β showed no significant differences between groups. Ratio analyses revealed lower IL-12p70/IL-4, IL-23p40/IL-4, and IL-1β/IL-10 ratios, alongside increased IL-1α/IL-4, IL-17A/IL-10, IL-3/IL-10, CCL3/IL-10, and GM-CSF/IL-10 ratios, indicating an imbalanced inflammatory milieu dominated by pro-inflammatory signals. Discriminant analyses using cytokine and hematological parameters further demonstrated clear separation between children with SCD and controls.ConclusionsSteady-state SCD in African children is characterized by a distinct cytokine and chemokine profile marked by persistent pro-inflammatory activation alongside regulatory counterbalances. Reduced ratios of IL-12p70 and IL-23p40 relative to anti-inflammatory cytokines may contribute to maintaining the steady-state inflammatory equilibrium. These findings provide reference signatures that may support future studies investigating inflammatory biomarkers.

【 授权许可】

CC BY-NC-ND   
© The Author(s) 2026

【 图 表 】

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Figure 7. Viability of eukaryotic cells (MDA-MB-231) in 2D culture.