DIVERGENT CYTOKINE PRODUCTION PROFILE IN BEHCETS-DISEASE - ALTERED TH1 TH2 CELL CYTOKINE PATTERN/

Objective, To determine Th1/Th2 cell response cytokine production prof ile in Behcet's disease (ED). Methods. Interleukin 2 (IL-2), interfero n-gamma (IFN-gamma) and IL-12 (Th1 cell response), and IL-4, IL-10, an d IL-13 (Th2 cell response) cytokine production from anti-CD3/anti-CD4 0 stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were measured b y ELISA. Results, PBMC from patients with ED produced higher levels of IL-4, IL-10, and IL-13 (Th2 cell response), almost normal levels of I L-2 (Th1 cell response), but highly deficient IFN-gamma and IL-12 (Th1 cell response). The additions of exogenous recombinant IFN-gamma to t he anti-CD3 stimulated PBMC dramatically changed this pattern with enh anced IL-12 and concomitantly decreased IL-4 and IL-10 production. Con clusion. The immune system in ED may be characterized by a divergent c ytokine production profile of mixed Th1/Th2 (Th0) cell type; IFN-gamma is critical in modulating the IL-4, IL-10, and IL-12 cytokine network pathway in this disease.