Dynamics of the Cytokine Response to Mycobacterium ulcerans during Antibiotic Treatment for M. ulcerans Disease (Buruli Ulcer) in Humans |
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| Authors: | F. S. Sarfo R. O. Phillips E. Ampadu F. Sarpong E. Adentwe M. Wansbrough-Jones |
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| Affiliation: | Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana,1. School of Medical Sciences, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana,2. National Buruli Ulcer Control Programme, MOH, Accra, Ghana,3. Tepa Government Hospital, Ahafo Ano North District, Tepa, Ghana,4. St. George''s University of London, London, United Kingdom5. |
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| Abstract: | We have studied the evolution of the gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and interleukin 10 (IL-10) responses after Mycobacterium ulcerans sonicate stimulation of whole blood from patients with early M. ulcerans lesions during treatment with rifampin and streptomycin for 8 weeks. Among the 26 patients, secretion of IFN-γ increased during treatment, with a significant increase at 4 weeks and a further increase after 8 weeks overall. The increase was more rapid in patients with large or ulcerative lesions, becoming significant by 4 weeks. For small lesions, there was only a minor increase, which did not reach significance. There was no significant change in the median IL-10 response during antibiotic therapy, and there was no inverse correlation between IFN-γ and IL-10 responses. These results demonstrate that an IFN-γ secretory response to M. ulcerans developed, independently of IL-10 secretion, in patients whose M. ulcerans disease healed during antibiotic therapy. |
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