AUTHOR=Zhou Yun , Bian Peiyu , Du Hong , Wang Tao , Li Mengyuan , Hu Haifeng , Ye Chuantao , Zheng Xuyang , Zhang Ying , Lei Yinfeng , Jia Zhansheng , Lian Jianqi TITLE=The Comparison of Inflammatory Cytokines (IL-6 and IL-18) and Immune Cells in Japanese Encephalitis Patients With Different Progression JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology VOLUME=12 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2022.826603 DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2022.826603 ISSN=2235-2988 ABSTRACT=Background

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is the main cause of viral encephalitis in Asia. Nowadays, no effective and specific therapy for JE patients is available except supportive treatment. The fatality rate of JE patients is still about 30%, and more than half of survivors suffered from various neuropsychiatric sequelae. Thus, more attention should be paid to JE.

Methods

In this study, a retrospective cohort of JE patients was collected and the general features of JE patients admitted into the Department of Infectious Diseases were analyzed. Meanwhile, the dynamic change of plasma cytokines and immune cells in JE patients with divergent prognosis was detected and analyzed.

Results

We found a mounted proportion of adult/old patients in JE cases. The level of IL-6 and IL-18 increased in JE patients especially in fatal individuals. There was a continuous decreased percentage of CD4+ T and B cells in severe JE patients with fatal outcome compared with the surviving JE patients.

Conclusions

The consistent high level of IL-6 and IL-18 in the plasma and low proportion of CD4+ T and B cells in the PBMCs might be the indicators of poor prognosis.