Cytotoxicity and interferon-γ production of CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells from peripheral blood and CSF was also augmented in response to IL-7 stimulation in both direct and indirect co-culture systems in EV71 associated encephalitis.
IFN-γ levels in EV71-infected patients were higher than those in controls (mild group vs. control group, P<0.01; encephalitis group vs. control group, P<0.01;).
High levels of cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10 and IFN-γ tend to correlate with clinical severity in patients with pulmonary edema and encephalitis.