title: Coexistent Malnutrition Is Associated with Perturbations in Systemic and Antigen-Specific Cytokine Responses in Latent Tuberculosis Infection.
abstract: Malnutrition, as defined by low body mass index (BMI), is a major risk factor for the development of active tuberculosis (TB), although the biological basis underlying this susceptibility remains poorly characterized. To verify whether malnutrition affects the systemic and antigen-specific cytokine levels in individuals with latent TB (LTB), we examined circulating and TB antigen-stimulated levels of cytokines in individuals with LTB and low BMI (LBMI) and compared them with those in individuals with LTB and normal BMI (NBMI). Coexistent LBMI with LTB was characterized by diminished circulating levels of type 1 (gamma interferon [IFN-γ] and tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α]), type 2 (interleukin-4 [IL-4]), type 17 (IL-22), and other proinflammatory (IL-1α, IL-1β, and IL-6) cytokines but elevated levels of other type 2 (IL-5 and IL-13) and regulatory (IL-10 and transforming growth factor beta [TGF-β]) cytokines. In addition, LBMI with LTB was associated with diminished TB antigen-induced IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1α, and IL-1β levels. Finally, there was a significant positive correlation between BMI values and TNF-α and IL-1β levels and a significant negative correlation between BMI values and IL-2, IL-10, and TGF-β levels in individuals with LTB. Therefore, our data reveal that latent TB with a coexistent low BMI is characterized by diminished protective cytokine responses and heightened regulatory cytokine responses, providing a potential biological mechanism for the increased risk of developing active TB.
authors: National Institutes of Health, National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis, International Center for Excellence in Research, Chennai, India.
authors: Rajamanickam
authors: R
authors: Anuradha
authors: National Institutes of Health, National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis, International Center for Excellence in Research, Chennai, India.
authors: Saravanan
authors: S
authors: Munisankar
authors: National Institutes of Health, National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis, International Center for Excellence in Research, Chennai, India.
authors: Yukthi
authors: Y
authors: Bhootra
authors: National Institutes of Health, National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis, International Center for Excellence in Research, Chennai, India.
authors: Nathalla Pavan
authors: NP
authors: Kumar
authors: National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis, Chennai, India.
authors: Chandrakumar
authors: C
authors: Dolla
authors: National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis, Chennai, India.
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Kumaran
authors: National Institutes of Health, National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis, International Center for Excellence in Research, Chennai, India sbabu@mail.nih.gov.
authors: Subash
authors: S
authors: Babu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D055985:Latent Tuberculosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D016207:Cytokines