The immune response to tuberculosis infection in the setting of Helicobacter pylori and helminth infections.

Abstract

We screened 176 healthy, adult (aged 18-55 years) US refugees from tuberculosis (TB)-endemic countries to evaluate whether cytokine responses to latent TB infection (LTBI) are modified in the setting of concurrent H. pylori and helminth infection. As measured by the Quantiferon-TB GOLD interferon-? release assay, a total 38 (22%) subjects had LTBI, of which 28 (74%) also were H. pylori seropositive and/or helminth infected. Relative to ten subjects with LTBI only, 16 subjects with concurrent H. pylori infection had significantly elevated levels of IFN-?, and nine subjects with both H. pylori and helminth infection had significantly elevated levels of IFN-?, IL-2, IL-13, and IL-5. H. pylori is associated with enhanced IFN-? responses to TB, even in the setting of concurrent helminth infection. Efficacy of TB vaccines may vary with the co-existence of these three infections in the developing world.

View details for DOI 10.1017/S0950268812001823

View details for PubMedID 22954328

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3785541