Evaluation of cytokines as Th1/Th2 markers in pathogenesis of children with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever

Cytokine networks play a key role in the pathogenesis of the disease in Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) patients. Therefore, our aim was to study the effects of cytokine levels on the pathogenesis and severity of the disease in children with CCHF. Fifty-two patients diagnosed with CCHF and 34 healthy controls (HC) were included in the study. The patients with CCHF were divided into two groups (severe and non-severe). The levels of the Interleukin-10 (IL-10), IL-12, IL-6, Endothelin-1 (ET-1) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were measured in all groups. IL-12 levels did not show any difference between the CCHF and HC groups and among the severe, non-severe and HC groups. IL-10 and ET-1 levels were significantly higher in the severe group when compared to the non-severe group and the HC group. Moreover, IL-10 and ET-1 levels were significantly higher in the non-severe group when compared to the HC group. In terms of IL-6 and TNF-alpha levels, there was no difference between the severe and non-severe groups while the said levels were significantly higher in the severe group when compared to the HC group. The results of the present study showing significantly higher IL-10 and ET-1 levels in the severe group suggest that Th2-mediated humoral immunity is more effective in the pathogenesis and severity of CCHF in children.