Peripheral T lymphocyte cytokine profile (IFN gamma, IL-2, IL-4) and CD30 expression/release during measles infection

Background and Objective. Measles virus infection (MVI) has been reported t o be characterized by an imbalanced Th-1/2-type cytokine profile. CD30 has been proposed as a receptor preferentially associated with the Th-0/2-type cytokine pattern. The aim of this study was therefore to define the periphe ral T lymphocyte cytokine profile and to test which CD30 expression pattern it was associated with in MVI. Design and Methods. The design of the study was a prospective evaluation wi th comparative analysis. The serum levels of the soluble form of CD30 (sCD3 0) were determined at diagnosis and at weekly intervals up to 4 weeks, usin g an ELISA, in 23 males (median age 19), who developed MVI while serving in the Italian army and who were admitted to the Infectious Disease Unit of t he Military Hospital in Padua. In 10 of the patients at diagnosis we studie d the lymphoid immunophenotype and, after nonspecific ex vivo stimulation, the expression of IFN gamma, IL-2 and IL-4 by peripheral T cells using flow cytometry single cell analysis. In 3 patients such evaluations were also p erformed 7 weeks later. Results. At diagnosis, we found (i) reduction of IFN gamma(+)/CD4(+) T cell s (p=0.048 vs controls) in the absence of substantial variation of IL-2(+) and IL-4(+) T cells (p=ns vs controls); (ii) expansion of CD30(+)/CD4(+) an d CD30(+)/CD8(+) T cell subsets (p<0.01 vs controls); (iii) high sCD30 valu es (median 61 U/mL; p<0.001 vs controls); (iiii) a context of lymphopenia ( 0.728+/-0.292 lymph x10(9)/L). sCD30 remained elevated up to 4 weeks from M VI onset [median values 53, 49, 50, 34 U/mL after 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks, resp ectively (p=ns between different time points)]. In 3 patients tested 7 week s after diagnosis, we still observed decreased IFN gamma production by CD4( +) and CD8(+) T cells (p=0.05 and <0.01, respectively vs controls) and redu ction of CD4(+) and CD8(+)/IL-2(+) i cells (p<0.01). Interpretation and Conclusions. MVI was characterized by features of inadeq uate Th/Tc-1 activation associated with increased circulating CD30(+) T cel ls and elevated sCD30 levels, supporting a correlation between Th/Tc status and CD30 expression/release pattern in vivo. (C) 1999, Ferrata Storti Foun dation.