Cytokines and Immune Network

The study measured eight cytokines and chemokines using a multiplex bead-based immunoassay. The Bayesian network suggested that IL-2 had the highest connectivity and that all cytokines depended on IL-2. IL-8 depended on TNF-alpha either directly or indirectly through IL-6. IL-10 was separate from the inferred cytokine network, consistent with its lack of severity association. TNF-alpha, IP-10, and IL-7 separately mediated three main immune-response components in the network model. Most measured cytokines differed significantly across severity categories, generally increasing with severity and peaking in category 5. IL-10 did not differ significantly across severity categories.