Dynamic Changes of Th1 Cytokines and the Clinical Significance of the IFN-γ/TNF-α Ratio in Acute Brucellosis

Figure 5

The IFN-γ/TNF-α ratios between brucellosis patients with different severities and healthy subjects. (a) IFN-γ plasma levels were determined by cytometric bead array (CBA) analysis, and Newman-Keuls analysis was used to evaluate the differences among groups. There were no significant differences between the severe and nonsevere groups in IFN-γ (^Δ), yet significant differences were detected between the patient groups (SG and NSG) and HC in IFN-γ (). (b) TNF-α plasma levels were determined by cytometric bead array (CBA) analysis, and Newman-Keuls analysis was used to evaluate the differences among groups. There were no significant differences between the severe and nonsevere groups in TNF-α (^Δ), yet significant differences were detected between the patient groups (SG and NSG) and HC in TNF-α (). (c) IFN-γ/TNF-α ratios for every patient were calculated and plotted for the analysis, which reveals significant differences between the severe and nonsevere groups (). Abbreviations: SG: patients in the severe group; NSG: patients in the nonsevere group; HC: healthy controls. ^Δ; .

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