Considerable efforts have been directed to clarify the main protective and recovery mechanisms in acute viral infections and, the possible role of the cytokines involved in the primary immune response induced by an epizootic strain of the Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis (VEE) virus. This study examined the levels of TH1 cytokines Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), TH2 cytokines Interleukin-4 (IL-4) and proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1beta, TNF-alpha) in serum and brain of mice

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... infected with the VEE virus during different post infection periods. NMRI albino male mice infected with a suspension (10 DL50) of the Guajira strain of the VEE virus, and a control group (without infection) were used. At one, 3 and 5 days post-infection, whole blood and brains were extracted to obtain sera and brain homogenates, respectively. IL-2, IFN-gamma, IL-4, IL-beta and TNF-alpha were determined by ELISA. A significant increment in the levels of IL-1beta, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha was observed (p<0.01) in serum and brain homogenates at 1, 3 and 5 day post-infection, when compared with the control group. The levels of IL-2 and IL-4 did not show any significant statistical difference when compared to the controls. These results suggest that IL-1beta, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha, could be involved in the early immunitary response to VEE virus during the primary infection.