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Human granulocytic anaplasmosis and macrophage activation

J Stephen Dumler1, Nicole C Barat, Christopher E Barat

  • 1Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. sdumler@jhmi.edu

Clinical Infectious Diseases : an Official Publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America
|June 21, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Human granulocytic anaplasmosis involves fever and low blood counts. Severe cases show macrophage activation and high cytokine levels, suggesting tissue injury from Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Immunology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) is an infectious disease.
  • Clinical and histopathologic findings in severe HGA suggest macrophage activation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of macrophage activation and cytokine profiles in HGA.
  • To correlate cytokine levels with disease severity.

Main Methods:

  • Studied 29 patients with HGA.
  • Measured serum levels of ferritin, IL-10, IL-12p70, and IFN-γ.
  • Compared patient levels to age- and sex-matched controls.
  • Assessed correlation between cytokine levels and clinical severity indicators.
  • Evaluated if severe cases met criteria for macrophage activation syndrome.

Main Results:

  • HGA patients had elevated ferritin, IL-10, IL-12p70, and IFN-γ compared to controls.
  • Disease severity correlated with triglyceride, ferritin, and IL-12p70 levels.
  • Several severely ill patients met diagnostic criteria for macrophage activation syndrome.

Conclusions:

  • Macrophage activation and excessive cytokine production are implicated in HGA.
  • These processes may contribute to tissue injury during Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection.

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