CONTENTS OF IL-lβ, IL-Ra, IL-4, IL-8 AND IFNγ IN THE CHILDREN WITH MINOR CLINICAL FORMS OF TUBERCULOSIS INFECTED WITH <i>TOXOPLASMA GONDII AND EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS</i>
A group of 122 children, aged 7 to 16 year, with minor clinical forms of tuberculosis and infected with <i>Toxoplasma gondii (T gondii) </i>and <i>Epstein-Barr virus </i>(EBV) was examined to evaluate the cytokine system. Immunoenzyme techniques were used to detect the presence IgM, IgA, IgG to <i>T. gondii </i>and EBV, as well as IL-1β, IL-IRa, IL-4, IL-8, and IFNγ cytokines in blood. The patients were classified into three groups: (I) children with IgG to <i>T. gondii, </i>(II) children with IgM or IgA to <i>T. gondii </i>(active toxoplasmosis), (III) children with <i>T. gondii-sp&cific </i>IgA and EBV-IgG-EA (active course of both toxoplasmosis and EBV infection). A comparison group (IV) consisted of ТВ-infected, <i>T. gomdii</i>-seronegative patients without EBV-IgG-EA. A control group included thirty persons without evident disease. In groups I-III, a simultaneous and significant increase in IL-4 and spontaneous IFNy contents was found, in comparison with controls. In group III, however, a 4-fold depression in IL-ip production was revealed against group IV, along with a 5.5-fold stimulation IFNγ production (as compared with controls). In groups I, II, IV, an inadequate hyperproduction of IL-1β and low IL-IRa levels were shown. In the group III, a 3.4-fold and 5,5 fold IL-IRa decrease were found, as compared, respectively, with group IV and control group. IL-8 content in groups I to III significantly exceeded control values (a 2.9 to 3-fold increase, with higher rates in group II). Hence, a direct inhibitory effect of EBV upon cell-mediated immunity should not be excluded under the conditions of ТВ-infection and active toxoplasmosis, thus further aggravating the immune dysfunction.