TY - JOUR
KW - Adolescent
KW - Adult
KW - Aged
KW - Antigens, Bacterial
KW - Antigens, Helminth
KW - Brazil
KW - Case-Control Studies
KW - Cells, Cultured
KW - Comorbidity
KW - Disease Progression
KW - Female
KW - Humans
KW - Interferon-gamma
KW - Interleukin-10
KW - Interleukin-4
KW - Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic
KW - Leprosy, lepromatous
KW - Leprosy, Tuberculoid
KW - Leukocytes, Mononuclear
KW - Lymphocyte Activation
KW - Male
KW - Middle Aged
KW - Mycobacterium leprae
KW - Prevalence
KW - Prospective Studies
KW - Risk Factors
KW - Th1 Cells
KW - Young Adult
AU - Diniz L M
AU - Magalhães E F L
AU - Pereira F E L
AU - Dietze R
AU - Ribeiro-Rodrigues R
AB - <p>Resistance to intracellular pathogens such as Mycobacterium leprae is dependent upon an effective T helper type 1 (Th1)-type immune response. On the other hand, intestinal helminths are known to subvert the host's immune response towards to either a Th2-type immune response or a regulatory T cell up-regulation, which may affect the host's ability to mount an effective response to mycobacteria. Here, we report a significant association between intestinal helminth infections and lepromatous leprosy [odds ratio (OR), 10.88; confidence interval (CI) 95%: 4.02-29.4; P<0.001]. We also observed that the frequency of intestinal helminths correlated strongly with the mycobacterial index (r=0.982, P<0.01). Corroborating with our hypothesis, intracellular levels of interferon-gamma were decreased significantly in leprosy patients co-infected with intestinal helminths when compared to leprosy patients without worms. Conversely, lepromatous leprosy patients with intestinal worms produced higher levels of both interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10. Our results suggest that a pre-existing infection by intestinal helminths may facilitate the establishment of M. leprae infection or its progression to more severe forms of leprosy.</p>
BT - Clinical and experimental immunology
C1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20491787?dopt=Abstract
DA - 2010 Jul 01
DO - 10.1111/j.1365-2249.2010.04164.x
IS - 1
J2 - Clin. Exp. Immunol.
LA - eng
N2 - <p>Resistance to intracellular pathogens such as Mycobacterium leprae is dependent upon an effective T helper type 1 (Th1)-type immune response. On the other hand, intestinal helminths are known to subvert the host's immune response towards to either a Th2-type immune response or a regulatory T cell up-regulation, which may affect the host's ability to mount an effective response to mycobacteria. Here, we report a significant association between intestinal helminth infections and lepromatous leprosy [odds ratio (OR), 10.88; confidence interval (CI) 95%: 4.02-29.4; P<0.001]. We also observed that the frequency of intestinal helminths correlated strongly with the mycobacterial index (r=0.982, P<0.01). Corroborating with our hypothesis, intracellular levels of interferon-gamma were decreased significantly in leprosy patients co-infected with intestinal helminths when compared to leprosy patients without worms. Conversely, lepromatous leprosy patients with intestinal worms produced higher levels of both interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10. Our results suggest that a pre-existing infection by intestinal helminths may facilitate the establishment of M. leprae infection or its progression to more severe forms of leprosy.</p>
PY - 2010
SP - 142
EP - 50
T2 - Clinical and experimental immunology
TI - Presence of intestinal helminths decreases T helper type 1 responses in tuberculoid leprosy patients and may increase the risk for multi-bacillary leprosy.
UR - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2940159/pdf/cei0161-0142.pdf
VL - 161
SN - 1365-2249
ER -