Research Article

An interferon-γ-related cytokine storm in SARS patients†

  1. Kao-Jean Huang1,
  2. Ih-Jen Su2,3,
  3. Michel Theron1,
  4. Yi-Chun Wu2,
  5. Shu-Kuan Lai2,
  6. Ching-Chuan Liu1,
  7. Huan-Yao Lei1,*

Article first published online: 15 DEC 2004

DOI: 10.1002/jmv.20255

Issue

Journal of Medical Virology

Journal of Medical Virology

Volume 75, Issue 2, pages 185–194, February 2005

Additional Information

How to Cite

Huang, K.-J., Su, I.-J., Theron, M., Wu, Y.-C., Lai, S.-K., Liu, C.-C. and Lei, H.-Y. (2005), An interferon-γ-related cytokine storm in SARS patients. Journal of Medical Virology, 75: 185–194. doi: 10.1002/jmv.20255

Author Information

  1. 1

    Departments of Basic Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan

  2. 2

    Center for Disease Control, Department of Health, Taipei, Taiwan

  3. 3

    Division of Clinical Research, National Health of Research Institute, Tainan, Taiwan

*Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.

  1. †

    Meeting presentation: International Conference of Influenza and the Resurgence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome held on 28–31 October 2003, in Taipei, Taiwan. Abstract No. Session V-2.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 15 DEC 2004
  2. Article first published online: 15 DEC 2004
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 15 OCT 2004

Funded by

  • National Science Council, Taiwan (SARS Research Project). Grant Number: NSC92-2751-B006-007

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Keywords:

  • SARS;
  • SARS-CoV;
  • cytokine;
  • interferon-gamma;
  • enterovirus 71;
  • pulmonary edema;
  • dengue hemorrhagic fever

Abstract

Fourteen cytokines or chemokines were analyzed on 88 RT-PCR-confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) patients. IFN-γ, IL-18, TGF-β, IL-6, IP-10, MCP-1, MIG, and IL-8, but not of TNF-α, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IL-13, or TNFRI, were highly elevated in the acute phase sera of Taiwan SARS patients. IFN-γ was significantly higher in the Ab(+) group than in the Ab(−) group. IFN-γ, IL-18, MCP-1, MIG, and IP-10 were already elevated at early days post fever onset. Furthermore, levels of IL-18, IP-10, MIG, and MCP-1 were significantly higher in the death group than in the survival group. For the survival group, IFN-γ and MCP-1 were inversely associated with circulating lymphocytes count and monocytes count, but positively associated with circulating neutrophils count. It is concluded that an interferon-γ-related cytokine storm was induced post SARS coronavirus infection, and this cytokine storm might be involved in the immunopathological damage in SARS patients. J. Med. Virol. 75:185–194, 2005. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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