IP-10 chemokine expression kinetics in blood cells from dengue patients

Abstract

Introduction: Dengue is today the most important viral disease transmitted by arthropods. It has been shown that the immune response plays an important role in the protection and pathogenesis of the disease and within this, cytokines and chemokines are central mediators.

Objective: To evaluate the possible association of the expression levels of the IP-10 chemokine gene with the warning signs during dengue infection is the objective of the present investigation.

Methods: Blood mononuclear cells were isolated between the second and eighth days after the onset of symptoms from 20 patients with a clinical and serological diagnosis of dengue infection. Expression levels of the IP-10 chemokine gene were quantified by real-time PCR. Detection of anti-dengue antibodies was performed by ELISA to classify the infection as primary or secondary. 

Results: A marked increase in the relative expression of the IP-10 gene was observed on days four to six. No significant differences in expression levels were observed between individuals with primary or secondary infection. 68% of the cases that presented alarm signs expressed higher levels of IP-10 expression, compared to the group without alarm signs.

Conclusions: A higher expression of IP-10 predominates from the fourth to sixth day of the clinical evolution of dengue infection in patients with warning signs.