Cytokine and immune cell interaction in immune-inflammatory response during crisis event in sickle cell disease

Background: The present study focused on evaluating serum cytokines in SCD cases and understanding these mediators' interplay with immune cells and their impact on disease severity score(DSscore).Methods: The study population of eighty-eight participants comprised twenty-one SCD cases with DSscore>5, thirty-seven SCD cases with DSscore≤5, and thirty control group. Blood samples were analyzed for T cell markers by flowcytometry and serum IL10, TNFα, IFNγ, and glutathione.Results: Serum IFNγ and IL10 levels were significantly higher in cases than control(p<0.05). The median(IQR) TNFα, 100.51(66.8) was higher in cases DSscore>5 than those with DSscore≤5(p=0.04). Both cases showed a significant rise in IFNγ compared to the control group(p<0.05). Similarly, median(IQR) IL10, 7.9(13.3) was elevated in cases DSscore>5(p=0.001) than control group. IL10 recorded a significant linear relationship with Tc-exhausted (CD8+CD279+) cells(r= 0.327,p=0.012) and Th-exhausted (CD4+CD279+) cells(r=0.265,p=0.045). A linear association(r=0.292,p=0.026) was observed between IFNγ and Tc Naive/Effector cell ratio (CD8+NECR). Similarly, TNFα was positively associated with the total T cell Naive/Effector cell ratio (TNECR) (r=0.307,p=0.019). Serum glutathione levels correlatedh exhausted (CD4+CD279+) cell (r=0.393,p=0.002) and IL10 (r=0.589,p<0.001). Conclusion: Cytokine profiling in SCD patients might provide insight into the underlying clinical course and vulnerability toward crisis events.