Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a member of the beta-coronavirus genus of zoonotic origin that emerged in the Arabian Peninsula and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. This study was conducted to assess the plasma levels of cytokines to evaluate the T_h1/T_h2 status among 46 MERS-CoV-infected patients (19 asymptomatic and 27 symptomatic) and 52 normal healthy controls using a customized luminex kit. Comparative analysis of data between MERS-CoV-infected patients and normal healthy controls revealed that although no difference was observed between asymptomatic MERS-CoV patients and controls, the mean plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-10 (44.69 ± 40.04 pg ml⁻¹ versus 14.84 ± 6.96 pg ml⁻¹; P < 0.0001), IL-4 (22.46 ± 8.02 pg ml⁻¹ versus 16.01 ± 9.97 pg ml⁻¹; P < 0.0001), IL-5 (10.78 ± 2.86 pg ml⁻¹ versus 8.06 ± 1.41 pg ml⁻¹; P < 0.0001) and IL-13 (14.51 ± 3.97 pg ml⁻¹ versus 11.53 ± 4.16 pg ml⁻¹; P < 0.003) in MERS-CoV symptomatic patients were significantly higher than the normal controls. The mean plasma levels of interferon (IFN)-γ and IL-12 were no different among the study groups. The cytokine profile among symptomatic MERS-CoV-infected patients was skewed to a T_h2 type immune response.

中文翻译：

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中东呼吸综合征冠状病毒感染患者 Th1/Th2 细胞因子的评估。

中东呼吸综合征冠状病毒 (MERS-CoV) 是人畜共患病 β 冠状病毒属的成员，出现于阿拉伯半岛，与显着的发病率和死亡率相关。本研究旨在使用定制的 luminex 试剂盒评估 46 名 MERS-CoV 感染患者（19 名无症状和 27 名有症状）和 52 名正常健康对照者的血浆细胞因子水平，以评估 T _h 1/T _h 2 状态。对中东呼吸综合征冠状病毒感染者和正常健康对照者的数据进行比较分析发现，虽然无症状中东呼吸综合征冠状病毒患者和对照者之间没有观察到差异，但白细胞介素（IL）-10的平均血浆水平（44.69±40.04 pg ml ^−1）对比 14.84 ± 6.96 pg ml ^-1；P < 0.0001)、IL-4 (22.46 ± 8.02 pg ml ^-1对比 16.01 ± 9.97 pg ml ^-1；P < 0.0001)、IL-5 (10.78 ± 2.86 pg ml ^-1)有 MERS-CoV 症状的患者中，IL-13（14.51 ± 3.97 pg ml -1与^{11.53 ±} 4.16 pg ml ^-1；P < 0.003 ）显着高于正常人控制。研究组之间干扰素 (IFN)-γ 和 IL-12 的平均血浆水平没有差异。有症状的 MERS-CoV 感染患者的细胞因子谱偏向于 T _h 2 型免疫反应。