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[Selected lymphocyte subsets in Lime borreliosis: a preliminary study]
J M Zajkowska1, T Hermanowska-Szpakowicz, E Kasprzycka
1Kliniki Chorób Pasozytniczych i Neuroinfekcji AM w Białymstoku. zajkowska@kki.net.pl
Insights
Lyme borreliosis significantly alters lymphocyte subsets, including CD4, CD8, and NK cells, before and after antibiotic treatment. These changes suggest a role in disease pathogenesis, with incomplete recovery indicating potential immune system inertness or insufficient therapy duration.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
- Medical Research
Background:
- Lyme borreliosis, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, affects various bodily systems.
- Immune system dysregulation, particularly in lymphocyte populations, is implicated in Lyme borreliosis pathogenesis.
- Understanding changes in lymphocyte subsets can provide insights into disease progression and treatment efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the percentage changes in lymphocyte subsets (CD19, CD3, CD4, CD8, NK cells) and activated T cells (CD3+HLA-DR) in Lyme borreliosis patients.
- To compare these immune parameters before and after a 4-week course of antibiotic therapy.
- To evaluate the CD4/CD8 ratio and its changes in relation to treatment.
Main Methods:
- Flow cytometric immunophenotyping was used to measure lymphocyte subsets and activated T cells.
- 30 patients with confirmed Lyme borreliosis (erythema migrans, Lyme arthritis, neuroborreliosis) were studied.
- Blood samples were analyzed before (I examination) and after (II examination) antibiotic treatment (ampicillin, ceftriaxone, or cefotaxime).
Main Results:
- Significant decreases in CD19+ lymphocytes were observed after treatment compared to before.
- Percentages of CD4, CD8, and NK cells were lower in patients compared to controls, both before and after treatment.
- A lower CD4/CD8 ratio and reduced percentages of activated T cells (CD3+HLA-DR+) were noted post-treatment.
- No significant changes were found in lymphocyte subsets with IL-2 receptors before and after treatment.
Conclusions:
- Active Borrelia burgdorferi infection causes significant alterations in lymphocyte subsets.
- Decreased percentages of CD4, CD8, NK cells, and activated T cells suggest their involvement in the immunopathogenesis of Lyme borreliosis.
- The lack of full normalization of immune parameters post-treatment may be due to immune system inertness or inadequate antibiotic therapy duration.
Abstract:
Observation of percentages changes of lymphocytes (CD19), T(CD3), subsets CD4, CD8, NK cells, activated lymphocytes with fenotype CD3+HLA-DR, CD4/CD8 rate in Lyme borreliosis was carried out before (I examination) and after antibioticotherapy (II examination). 30 patients in aged 17-60 (x = 41) with recognition of erythema migrans(EM), Lyme arthritis(LA) and neuroborreliosis(NB) were examined. Epidemiological, clinical diagnosis was confirm by the presence of antibodies in ELISA test. Lymphocytes and their subsets, NK cells were signed and measured by flow cytometric immunophenotyping in Coulter EPIX XL with Becton-Dickinson antibodies twice: before and after treatment. Ampicillin, ceftriaxon or cefotaxim was applied during 4 weeks. AnStat program was used in statistic analysis. Value CD3 (x = 72.54) in I test was higher than control (x = 69.3), but CD19 (x = 13.2) was lower than control (x = 12.9). In II examination we stated CD19 (x = 9.48) progressive significant decreased in comparison to I examination. Percentage CD4 in II examination (x = 42) was lower than control (x = 45.8). Subset of CD8 had lower value in I examination (x = 28.03), as in II (x = 30.72) in comparison with control (x = 34.2). We showed lower CD4/CD8 (x = 1.40) rate after treatment than control (x = 2.67). We showed lower percentage NK cells after treatment (x = 13.5) than control. We also found lower percentage activated subsets T cells with phenotype CD3+HLA-DR before (x = 4.78) and after treatment (x = 4.03) compared with control (x = 7.27). No statistical changes in subsets with receptor for IL-2 before and after treatment was shown. In the course of active infection B.burgdorferi essential changes in lymphocytes subsets are observed. Decreased percentages of CD4, CD8, NK and CD3+HLA-DR+ in whole blood indicate their important role in immunopathogenesis of Lyme borreliosis. Lack of normalization of investigated parameters after treatment can be caused by inertion of elements immunologic system, as well as too short antibioticotherapies.