DIFFERENTIAL EXPRESSION OF PROINFLAMMATORY CYTOKINES AND THEIR INHIBITORS DURING THE COURSE OF MENINGOCOCCAL INFECTIONS

Circulating concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF), inter leukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), and solubl e TNF receptors p55 (sTNFr-55) and p75 (sTNFr-75) and ex vivo producti on of TNF, IL-1, IL-6, and IL-Ira using a whole blood culture system w ere measured during the acute and convalescent stages of meningococcal infection. Circulating TNF and IL-1 were below detection level, where as IL-6 and IL-1ra, sTNFr-55, and sTNFr-75 were increased at admission . The ex vivo production of proinflammatory cytokines TNF, IL-1, and I L-6 was suppressed at admission and restored gradually during recovery . On the contrary, the production of the antiinflammatory IL-Ira was i ncreased at admission. The elevated concentrations of both IL-1ra and sTNFr early in the course of infection suggest a regulatory role for t hese antiinflammatory compounds. The observed down-regulation of the e x vivo production of TNF, IL-1, and IL-6 and up-regulation of the prod uction of IL-1ra in the acute stage may indicate a protective regulati on mechanism.