T helper cell type 2 responsiveness predicts future susceptibility to gastrointestinal nematodes in humans.
Some humans are persistently more susceptible to gastrointestinal nematodes than others. Here, for the first time, susceptibility to reinfection has been linked to host cytokine responses. Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura abundance was assessed immediately before and 8-9 months after deworming in a Cameroonian population (starting n=191). Profiles of whole-blood cytokine responses to parasite antigens (for interleukin [IL]-5, IL-13, IL-10, IL-12p40, tumor necrosis factor- alpha , and interferon- gamma), assayed before treatment, were significantly related both to an overall measure of host susceptibility and to susceptibility to reinfection. Significant effects were primarily due to a negative association between IL-13 and IL-5 responses and infection. Persistently susceptible individuals were, therefore, characterized by a weak T helper cell type 2 response. The apparent plasticity of age-specific cytokine response-worm abundance relationships between different populations is also discussed.
Jackson
Joseph A
JA
School of Biology, Nottingham University, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
Turner
Joseph D
JD
Rentoul
Lawrence
L
Faulkner
Helen
H
Behnke
Jerzy M
JM
Hoyle
Martin
M
Grencis
Richard K
RK
Else
Kathryn J
KJ
Kamgno
Joseph
J
Boussinesq
Michel
M
Bradley
Janette E
JE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000276:immunology; D001196:Ascariasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D001200:Ascaris / Q000276:immunology*; D002163:Cameroon; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000097:blood; D053762:Interleukin-12 Subunit p40; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000097:blood; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000097:blood; D012008:Recurrence; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D014257:Trichuriasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D014258:Trichuris / Q000276:immunology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D016207:Cytokines; D053762:Interleukin-12 Subunit p40; D018793:Interleukin-13; D015848:Interleukin-5; D021122:Protein Subunits; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma