LYMPHOCYTE SUBSETS AND PLASMA IL-1-ALPHA, IL-2, AND TNF-ALPHA CONCENTRATIONS IN ACUTE RHEUMATIC-FEVER AND CHRONIC RHEUMATIC HEART-DISEASE

The distribution of CD3(+), CD4(+), CD8(+), CD19(+), CD16(+), and CD25 (+) lymphocyte populations in peripheral blood as well as the plasma c oncentrations of interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), and IL-2 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) were investigated in 25 children wit h acute rheumatic fever (ARF) at the time of admission and after 3 mon ths and in 15 children with chronic rheumatic heart disease (CRHD) and in 15 children with streptoccocal pharyngitis (SP) in order to determ ine changes in lymphocyte subsets and cytokine concentrations occurrin g during different stages of the disease. The percentages and absolute counts of CD4(+), CD16(+), CD25(+) cells, the ratio of CD4/CD8 and pl asma concentrations of IL-1 alpha and IL-2 in patients with ARF were s ignificantly higher at admission than 3 months later. These levels wer e also significantly higher than in patients with CRHD, SP, or normal controls. Production of IL-2 in ARF and CRHD patients directly correla ted with the percentages of CD4(+) and CD25(+) cells. According to our results, the evidences of increased cellular immune response in ARF a re increased percentages CD4(+) and CD25(+) cells, CD4/CD8 ratio, and increased plasma concentrations of IL-1 alpha and IL-2. Furthermore, a ctivation of cellular immune response was not present throughout all s tages of rheumatic heart disease and also in SP. (C) 1995 Academic Pre ss, Inc.