Author/Authors :
Bandara, Kanchana Department of Basic Sciences - Faculty of Allied Health Sciences - General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka , Gunasekara, Chinthika Department of Microbiology - Faculty of Medical Sciences - University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Gangodawila, Sri Lanka , Weerasekera, Manjula Department of Microbiology - Faculty of Medical Sciences - University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Gangodawila, Sri Lanka , Marasinghe, Chamil Department of Medicine - Faculty of Medical Sciences - University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Gangodawila, Sri Lanka , Ranasinghe, Nilantha Out Patients Department - Base Hospital, Sri Lanka , Fernando, Neluka Department of Microbiology - Faculty of Medical Sciences - University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Gangodawila, Sri Lanka
Abstract :
Objectives
The aim of this study was to determine the level of five different pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines to study the inflammatory response of leptospirosis.
Materials and methods
The serum cytokine levels of IL-10, IL-17A, IL-21, IL-23, and TNF-α were investigated in 57 patients with leptospirosis and 12 healthy controls using a commercially available ELISA kit (Mabtech, Sweden). Statistical analysis was done using Graphpad Prism.
Results
Elevation of serum IL-10 and IL-17A levels and significant elevation of serum IL-21 (p=0.002), IL-23 (p=0.002), and TNF-α (p=0.039) were observed among leptospirosis patients compared to the healthy control group. The two major complications observed among these patients were renal failure and liver involvement. Renal failure was significantly associated with elevation of IL-21 and IL-23, while patients with liver involvement had a significant elevation of IL-21, IL-23, and TNF-α.
Conclusion
Elevation of IL-17A together with the significant elevation of IL-21 and IL-23 suggests a possible involvement of Th17 cells in the immunopathogenesis of leptospirosis
