INFLUENCE OF HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS PERSISTENCE UPON PRODUCTION OF CYTOKINES BY IMMUNOCOMPETENT CELLS IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Using modern immunological methods of studies, we investigated some immunopathogenetic aspects of rheumatoid arthritis complicated by chronic herpesvirus infection. It was established that both rheumatoid arthritis, and chronic herpesvirus infection are accompanied by pronounced imbalance in production of immunoregulatory Th1/Th2-cytokines produced in immunocompetent cells of peripheral blood. In case of rheumatoid arthritis combined with herpes simplex infection, IL-2 and IFNγγ levels were decreased, whereas IL-4 и IL-6 levels proved to be increased, as compared with isolated diseases under study.