Barbro Hedin Skogman

Publications (3)3.41 Total impact

• Article: Up-regulation of Borrelia-specific IL-4- and IFN-gamma-secreting cells in cerebrospinal fluid from children with Lyme neuroborreliosis.

  Mona Widhe, Barbro Hedin Skogman, Sara Jarefors, Mattias Eknefelt, Gunilla Eneström, Maria Nordwall, Christina Ekerfelt, Stefan Croner, Sven Bergström, Pia Forsberg, Jan Ernerudh
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: The clinical course and outcome of several infectious diseases are dependent on the type of immune response elicited against the pathogen. In adults with neuroborreliosis (NB), a type 1 response with high production of Borrelia-specific IFN-gamma, but no IL-4, has been reported. Since children have a more benign course of NB than adults, we wanted to investigate type 1 and type 2 responses in children with NB. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood were collected from children during the acute stage of 'confirmed NB' (n = 34), 'possible NB' (n = 30) and 'non-NB' (n = 10). The number of Borrelia-specific IL-4- and IFN-gamma-secreting cells was measured by enzyme-linked immunospot assay. Borrelia-specific secretion of both IL-4 and IFN-gamma was increased in CSF in confirmed (P < 0.05) and possible (P < 0.01) NB, when compared with non-NB controls. Furthermore, children with NB had significantly higher Borrelia-specific IL-4 secretion in CSF than an adult reference material with NB (P < 0.05). There were no differences in cytokine secretion in relation to onset or recovery of neurological symptoms. Since IL-4 is known to down-regulate the pro-inflammatory and possibly harmful effects of prolonged IFN-gamma responses, the prominent IL-4 response observed in the central nervous system compartment might contribute to the more benign disease course seen in children with Lyme NB.
  International Immunology 10/2005; 17(10):1283-91. · 3.41 Impact Factor
• Article: [Before the next ticks season: vaccinate children older than 7 years living in endemic regions against TBE but let the small children get away].

  Barbro Hedin Skogman, Lennart Nilsson, Stefan Croner, Pia Forsberg
  Lakartidningen 11/2004; 101(43):3367; author reply 3367-8.
• Article: [The campaign for TBE vaccination of small children is unethical and incorrect].

  Barbro Hedin Skogman, Lennart Nilsson, Stefan Croner, Pia Forsberg
  Lakartidningen 10/2004; 101(37):2832; discussion 2833.