title: Levels of complement C3 and C4 components in Amerindians living in an area with high prevalence of tuberculosis.
abstract: The levels of complement C3 and C4 components were determined in non-indigenous (creoles) and indigenous (Warao) populations, the latter with an extremely high tuberculosis (TB) rate. Serum samples from 209 adults were studied and classified in 4 groups taking into account tuberculin skin tests (TST): (1) the group of Warao patients (58 positive for the TST, WP TST+ and 9 negative for the TST, WP TST-), (2) the group of creole patients (34 positive for the TST, CP TST+ and 9 negative for the TST, CP TST-), (3) the group of healthy Warao controls (38 positive and 14 negative for TST, WC TST+ and WC TST-, respectively), (4) the creole controls (26 positive and 21 negative for the TST, CC TST+ and CC TST-, respectively). With respect to the results concerning the measurement of both complement C3 and C4 components with the exception of the WC TST and the CC groups, the WP TST+ and WP TST- as well as WC TST+ groups showed a significant frequency of individuals with decreased levels of complement C3 component (20.6, 33.3, and 26.3%, respectively) and also C4 component (12.0, 11.1, and 13.3%, respectively) in comparison to both creole patients (CP TST+, 8.82% and CP TST-, 0% and CP TST+, 5.88% and CP TST-, 0%) for C3 and C4, respectively. The study of these parameters carried out in 15 Warao subjects with active infection, before and after anti-TB chemotherapy,statisticallyconfirmedthat the effective chemotherapy did not restore normal levels of the complement C3 and C4 components among Warao patients. Aditional tests for hepatitis B or hepatitis C infection, and the profile of the hepatic proteins were not associated to the deficiency in production of the complement components. In conclusion, the results show that within the Warao population, a high percentage of subjects exhibit decreased levels of both complement C3 and C4 components independent of latent or active infection and the status of TST.
authors.affiliation: Cátedra de Inmunología, Escuela de Medicina José María Vargas, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas. zaraujo@telcel.net.ve
authors.forename: Zaida
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Araujo
authors.forename: Nieves
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: de Cubeddu
authors.forename: Rita C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Ziegler
authors.forename: Jacobus H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: de Waard
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giampietro
authors.forename: Domingo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Garzaro
authors.forename: Flor H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Pujol
authors.forename: Neligia Carrasco
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: de Serrano
authors.forename: Amairany García
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: de Saboin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis*; D003181:Complement C4 / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007199:Indians, South American; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology / Q000276:immunology*; D014687:Venezuela / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D003176:Complement C3; D003181:Complement C4