Estimation of Interleukin-8 Level in Diarrheic Children Infected with Rotavirus

Abstract

Background and objective: Rotavirus is the most important cause of severe diarrhea in children worldwide. We have investigated that certain cytokines especially interleukin- 8 (IL-8) as a chemokine, may play an important role in the pathogenesis of and the protection against rotavirus disease in children. The purpose of this study was to reveal the association between IL-8 and child diarrhea with rotavirus. Methods: Stool samples were collected from 150 children under 5 years of age who developed diarrhea and 45 from non-diarrheic children of equivalent age. All samples were detected for rotavirus and serum IL-8 level. The study was undertaken from May to December of 2006. Enzyme linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) was applied for detection rotavirus and IL-8. Results: Among the children, female patients with breast feeding were less infected with rotavirus compared to males with artificial and mixed feeding. The IL-8 concentration was highly significantly between the study groups (P< 0.01). Regarding the gender, serum IL-8 level was significantly higher in males than females (P<0.05). However, no significance prevalence in IL-8 level was recorded between gender in healthy control group (P >0.05). Conclusion: Rotavirus infection induces the expression of chemokines as IL-8. These data support the hypothesis that chemokine secretion may play a role in the initiation and modulation of the immune response to rotavirus infection.