Enterovirus-induced production of pro-inflammatory and T-helper cytokines by human leukocytes

Enteroviruses are associated with chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases in humans. In these conditions, the cytokine network is supposed to have an important role in inflammation and modulation of the (auto)immune response. In the present study, we demonstrate that coxsackie virus B4 and poliovirus type 1 induce production of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha in freshly isolated human leucocytes. Furthermore, enteroviruses stimulate the production of cytokines belonging to Th(1)pathways (IFN-gamma, IL-2), and IL-10, which play a role in regulation of the cellular and humoral immune response.