Pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines signatures at different severity of dengue infection

Dengue disease severity and progression are determined by the host immune response, with both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines are key mediators.

To study pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines across dengue severity and as a biomarker for predicting severe dengue infection.

Hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 125 dengue-positive subjects across the 5-60 years age group of either gender in 2022.

Haematological parameters and blood samples were drawn to measure cytokines IL6, IL-10 and TNF alpha using the ELISA technique.

One-way ANOVA and the Kruskal - Wallis test were used to compare the dependent variables across categories of the dengue spectrum. Receiver operating characteristic curve was drawn to calculate the predictability of the cytokines as a predictor of severe dengue. A P < 0.05 was considered significant.

34.4% of cases had severe dengue infection with 53.2% of severe cases reported in >40 years of age. Only IL-6 levels significantly increased (P < 0.01) across the spectrum of dengue infection across age groups >20 years with a consistent and significant fall in platelet levels (P < 0.01). The accuracy of IL-6 to predict severe dengue was 74.4% and platelet count was 16.2%.

Only IL-6 cytokine levels were significantly increased across the spectrum of dengue infection observed in age >20 years and can significantly predict the probability of severe dengue by 74% (sensitivity 81.4%). A significant decrease in platelet values is consistent with the severity but is not a good predictor for severe dengue infection.