The Role of Th1/Th2 Cytokine Balance in Gulf War-Related Illness
Abstract
The aetiology of Gulf-War (GW) related illnesses remains unclear. The proposal has made that multiple vaccines, given under the stress of deployment with additional effects of the T helped 2 (Th2) adjuvant pertuseia could skew the immune response towards a Th2 profile. The Th2 profile, characterized by the cytokines interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-10, has been associated with symptoms such as allergic disease, hypersensitivity and depression, symptoms characteristic of which are often reported by sick GW veterans (GWVs) . We studied whether self-reported illness in GWVs is associated with a Th2 shift by examining Th2 (IL-4, IL-10) and Thl (IL-2, interferon-7) intracellular cytokine staining in helper T lymphocytes by flow cytometry after mitogenic stimulation. We studied GWVs with and without illness, as well as a group of control servicemen with similar symptoms who were either not deployed (era controls) or deployed to the Bosnia conflict. We find changes in cytokine profiles in servicemen reporting multi-symptom illness. Our data suggest that deployment to the Gulf and multi-symptom illness are associated with immune activation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADB279138
Entities
People
- Mark Peakman
Organizations
- King's College London