Enterovirus-induced production of pro-inflammatory and T-helper cytokines by human leukocytes

Enteroviruses are associated with chronic inflammatory and autoimmune disea ses in humans. In these conditions, the cytokine network is supposed to hav e an important role in inflammation and modulation of the (auto)immune resp onse. In the present study, we demonstrate that coxsackie virus B4 and poli ovirus type 1 induce production of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha in freshly isolated human leucocytes. Furthermore, enteroviruses stimulate the production of cytokines belonging to Th-1 pathways (IFN-gamm a, IL-2), and IL-10, which play a role in regulation of the cellular and hu moral immune response. (C) 2000 Academic Press.