Cytokine and immune cell interaction in immune-inflammatory response during crisis event in sickle cell disease

The present study focused on evaluating serum cytokines in SCD cases and understanding these mediators' interplay with immune cells and their impact on disease severity score(DSscore).

The study population of eighty-eight participants comprised twenty-one SCD cases with DSscore>5, thirty-seven SCD cases with DSscore≤5, and thirty control group. Blood samples were analyzed for T cell markers by flowcytometry and serum IL10, TNFα, IFNγ, and glutathione.

Serum IFNγ and IL10 levels were significantly higher in cases than control(p<0.05). The median(IQR) TNFα, 100.51(66.8) was higher in cases DSscore>5 than those with DSscore≤5(p=0.04). Both cases showed a significant rise in IFNγ compared to the control group(p<0.05). Similarly, median(IQR) IL10, 7.9(13.3) was elevated in cases DSscore>5(p=0.001) than control group. IL10 recorded a significant linear relationship with Tc-exhausted (CD8+CD279+) cells(r= 0.327, p=0.012) and Th-exhausted (CD4+CD279+) cells(r=0.265, p=0.045). A linear association(r=0.292, p=0.026) was observed between IFNγ and Tc Naive/Effector cell ratio (CD8+NECR). Similarly, TNFα was positively associated with the total T cell Naive/Effector cell ratio (TNECR) (r=0.307, p=0.019). Serum glutathione levels correlatedh exhausted (CD4+CD279+) cell (r=0.393, p=0.002) and IL10 (r=0.589, p<0.001). Conclusion: Cytokine profiling in SCD patients might provide insight into the underlying clinical course and vulnerability toward crisis events.