Determination of Toll-Like Receptor-Induced Cytokine Profiles in the Blood and Cerebrospinal Fluid of Chikungunya Patients

Background: Chikungunya infection caused by Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an inflammatory disease affecting the joints and may also lead to neurological complications. We investigated a panel of human Toll-like receptor (TLR)-induced cytokines in Chikungunya patients with and without neurological complications. Methods: In a case-control study, a panel of 12 cytokines and chemokines, TNF-alpha, IFN-alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-12, IL-17A, IL-8, monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1, RANTES, interferon (IFN)-gamma-induced protein (IP)-10, monokine induced by IFN-gamma (MIG) and thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC), was analysed using a conventional ELISA protocol in the serum samples of Chikungunya patients without neurological complications and in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and paired serum samples of Chikungunya patients with neurological complications. Results:The levels of 3 cytokines, IL-1 beta, IL-17A and IL-8, and 4 chemokines, MCP-1, RANTES, IP-10 and TARC, were raised in serum samples of Chikungunya patients without neurological complications, whereas, 4 cytokines, TNF-alpha, IFN-alpha, IL-6 and IL-8, and 4 chemokines, MCP-1, RANTES, MIG and TARC, were elevated in CSF samples of Chikungunya patients with neurological complications. Moreover, the levels of IL-6 and IL-8 cytokines were significantly elevated in the CSF compared to paired serum samples in Chikungunya patients with neurological complications. Conclusions: In CHIKV infection, multiple cytokines are elevated in serum and CSF. The elevation in IL-6 and IL-8 cytokines in CSF correlates with neurological involvement. (C) 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel