Panel A shows bar graphs comparing serum concentrations of endotoxin, Lipopolysaccharide Binding Protein (LBP), secretory CD14 (sCD14), and intestinal Fatty Acid Binding Protein (IFABP) in 20 Lyme patients at visit 1 and 6-month follow-up after antibiotic treatment, compared to 20 age-matched healthy controls (HC). The y-axes represent concentrations in endotoxin units per milliliter, micrograms per milliliter, and picograms per milliliter, respectively. Panel B shows bar graphs comparing these serum markers between male and female Lyme patients and age-matched HC. The y-axes represent concentrations in endotoxin units per milliliter, micrograms per milliliter, and picograms per milliliter, respectively. Panel C shows scatter plots correlating these serum markers with the Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) in Lyme patients. The x-axes represent NLR, and the y-axes represent concentrations in endotoxin units per milliliter, micrograms per milliliter, and picograms per milliliter, respectively. Panel D shows scatter plots correlating these serum markers with the number of acute-onset Lyme disease symptoms in Lyme patients. The x-axes represent the number of symptoms, and the y-axes represent concentrations in endotoxin units per milliliter, micrograms per milliliter, and picograms per milliliter, respectively. Panel E shows bar graphs comparing these serum marker levels in Lyme patients with normal liver function versus those with abnormal elevations in liver markers. The y-axes represent concentrations in endotoxin units per milliliter, micrograms per milliliter, and picograms per milliliter, respectively. Each symbol represents results from a single participant, and bars indicate mean SEM. Significant differences and correlations are indicated with asterisks and P values.
Lyme disease patients show hallmarks of systemic inflammation. (A) ELISA analysis of serum concentrations of endotoxin, LBP, sCD14, and IFABP in 20 Lyme patients (visit 1 and 6-month follow-up after antibiotic treatment) compared with 20 age-matched HCs. (B) Sex-based comparison of above serum markers between Lyme patients and age-matched HCs. (C and D) Correlation analysis between the above serum markers and the NLR (C), as well as with the number of acute-onset Lyme disease symptoms (D), in the Lyme patient group. (E) Comparison of the above serum marker levels in Lyme patients with normal liver function versus those with abnormal elevations in at least one of the following liver markers at visit 1: aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, or alkaline phosphatase. Bars indicate the mean ± SEM; each symbol represents results from single participant. (A) Mann–Whitney U test between HCs and V1 or follow-up, paired Student’s t test between V1 and follow-up. (B and E) Mann–Whitney U test. (C and D) Simple linear regression analyses.*P < 0.05, **P ≤ 0.01, ***P ≤ 0.001, ****P ≤ 0.0001, and ns, not significant (P > 0.05) ns, not significant (P > 0.05). sCD14, secretory CD14.