Cytokine and chemokine levels
Levels of cytokines and chemokines in plasma samples were measured in duplicate by multiplex bead array assays using a Bio-Plex Pro Human Cytokine 27-Plex Assay Kit (Bio-Rad, Hercules, CA, USA) according to the manufacturer's instructions. The concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-1ra, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, IL-12 (p70), IL-13, IL-15, IL-17, interferon-γ (IFN-γ)