RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Systemic T Cell Subsets and Cytokines in Patients With Homozygous Sickle Cell Disease and Asymptomatic Urinary Tract Infections in Togo
JF Ochsner Journal
JO Ochsner J
FD O. P. Jindal Global University
SP 163
OP 172
DO 10.31486/toj.20.0061
VO 21
IS 2
A1 Tchopba, Christèle Nguepou
A1 Katawa, Gnatoulma
A1 Padaro, Essohana
A1 Tchadié, Pélagie Edlom
A1 Karou, Simplice Damintoti
A1 Vovor, Ahoefa
A1 Ameyapoh, Yaovi
YR 2021
UL http://www.ochsnerjournal.org/content/21/2/163.abstract
AB Background: In sickle cell disease (SCD), cytokine expression influences the pivotal pathways that contribute to disease pathogenesis. Additional infection could affect the immune profile of patients with SCD and increase disease mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate the cytokines and T helper cells profile in patients with asymptomatic urinary tract infection and homozygous SCD (HbSS).Methods: From July to September 2018, 22 HbSS subjects were recruited at Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Campus in Lomé, Togo, 12 of whom had urinary tract bacterial infections and 10 of whom were uninfected. Cytokines from plasma were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) sandwich method, and immune cell profiles were performed by flow cytometry. The immunogenicity of bacteria-derived antigens isolated from the urine of HbSS subjects with asymptomatic urinary tract infections was studied in a cell culture system, and the induction of the cytokines was measured.Results: The mean age of HbSS subjects with urinary tract infections was 20.33 ± 3.58 years, and the male/female ratio was 0.09 (1:11). HbSS subjects with asymptomatic urinary tract infections had elevated plasma levels of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin (IL)-10. CD4+Tbet+IFN-γ+ and CD4+FoxP3+IL-10+ T cell populations were decreased in HbSS subjects with asymptomatic urinary tract infections. Bacterial antigens from HbSS subjects induced the production of IL-10 but not IFN-γ in uninfected volunteer donors (HbAA).Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that patients with SCD and asymptomatic urinary tract infections had elevated IFN-γ and IL-10 levels. This chronic inflammatory condition could be a risk for this group of patients in terms of vaso-occlusive crisis. Systematic cytobacteriologic examination of the urine of HbSS subjects would be of interest.