Investigation of IFN-γ, IP-10, I-TAC and MIG activity in borrelia burgdorferi antigen stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells of lyme cases

In this study, we aimed to determine a marker that can support an early diagnosis by evaluating IFN-γ, MIG/CXCL9, IP-10/CXCL10, and I-TAC/CXCL11 levels by stimulate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of Lyme patients and Borrelia burgdorferi-specific recombinant outer surface protein (rOspC) in the supernatant samples collected 24, 48, and 72 hours after stimulation. A total of 40 individuals, including 13 Erythema chronicum migrans (ECM), 7 Lyme arthritis (LA), 10 Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB), and 10 healthy controls, were included in the study. Mononuclear cells of cases and controls were separated and cultured. The cultured PBMCs were stimulated with rOspC, and ELISA measured IFN-γ, MIG/CXCL9, IP-10/CXCL10, I-TAC/CXCL11 levels in the culture supernatants collected after 24, 48, and 72 hours. A statistically significant difference was found in the IP-10/CXCL10 level in ECM and LNB cases in the first 24 hours after stimulation with rOspC in the subjects and control group (p=0.013, p=0.016, respectively). In LA cases, when compared with the control group, a statistically significant difference was found in both MIG/CXCL9 and IP-10/CXCL10 levels in the first 24 hours compared to the 48th and 72nd hours (p=0.008, p=0.007, respectively). It is recommended to confirm with WB in cases with suspected Lyme borreliosis with or without tick contact, especially in endemic areas, even if there is seronegativity. Our study on IFN-γ related chemokines by isolating from PBMCs of Lyme patients has enabled us to obtain specific data for both determining potential new markers for the diagnosis of the disease and for detailed examination of the pathogenesis of the disease. According to the data of our study, in addition to serological tests, IP-10/CXCL10, which shows a significant increase in all three forms of clinical involvement of the disease compared to the control group should considered as a potential marker that can be used in early diagnosis.