Energy deficits suppress both systemic and gut immunity during infection.
Protein-energy malnutrition and gastrointestinal nematode infections widely coexist in developing countries. Evidence is provided demonstrating the profound impact of dietary energy deficiency on immune function. Energy-restricted (ER) mice infected with a gastrointestinal nematode showed impaired lymphocyte proliferation and reduced production of Th2 cytokines and lower levels of IgE, parasite-specific IgG1, and eosinophils, which led to higher worm burdens and fecundity. We conclude that mild ER, without concurrent protein malnutrition, can modulate protective immunity from (a) activation early during a primary infection to (b) the expression of acquired immunity during reinfection in both systemic and gut-associated lymphoid tissues.
Koski
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KG
School of Dietetics, Institute of Parasitology, McGill University (Macdonald Campus), 21,111 Lakeshore Road, Ste Anne de Bellevue, Quebec, H9X 3V9, Canada.
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Scott
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D000818:Animals; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000276:immunology; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D007109:Immunity; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal / Q000276:immunology*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009351:Nematospiroides dubius; D017206:Strongylida Infections / Q000276:immunology*
D000947:Antigens, Helminth