Immune mediators of protective and pathogenic immune responses in patients with mild and fatal human monocytotropic ehrlichiosis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Ehrlichia chaffeensis is a bacterial pathogen that causes fatal human monocytic ehrlichiosis (HME) that mimic toxic shock-like syndrome. Murine studies indicate that over activation of cellular immunity followed by immune suppression plays a central role in mediating tissue injury and organ failure during fatal HME. However, there are no human studies that examine the correlates of resistance or susceptibility to severe and fatal HME.

Results

In this study, we compared the immune responses in two patients with mild/non fatal and severe/fatal HME who had marked lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia and elevated liver enzymes. The levels of different immunological factors in the blood of those patients were examined and compared to healthy controls. Our data showed that fat

SUBMITTER: Ismail N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3517396 | biostudies-literature | 2012 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature