Original scientific paper
Perforin expression in cytotoxic Tcells of infants with respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis
A.M. Cepika
A. Gagro
A. Baće
D. Tješić-Drinković
M. Matić
J. Kelečić
T. Baričić-Voskresensky
V. Draženović
G. Mlinarić-Galinović
D. Tješić-Drinković
Z. Vrtar
S. Rabatić
Abstract
Perforin is a protein located in secretory granules of cytotoxic T cells. Together with other granules' proteins perforin is necessary for lysis of host's cells infected with intracellular pathogens. We investigated peforin expression in cytotoxic T cells of infants with bronchiolitis caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The peripheral blood samples were obtained from hospitalized infants during primary infection and after the resolution of the disease (n=12), and from the control group of age- and gender-matched healthy children. Analysis of the data revealed that the percentage of perforin-expressing cytotoxic T cells was similar in all three groups of tested subjects. However, there were differences in perforin expression levels in cytotoxic T cells between once-infected infants and their healthy controls. This indicates an ongoing disturbed cellular immune response even after the resolution of RSV infection.
Keywords
perforin; infants; respiratory syncytial virus; T cells
Hrčak ID:
12761
URI
Publication date:
30.9.2005.
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