Helminthic infection enhances susceptibility to tuberculosis in a murine coinfection model (43.31)

• Published in: The Journal of immunology (1950) 2007-04, Vol.178 (1_Supplement), p.S42-S42
• Main Authors: Potian, Julius Andrew, Bhatt, Kamlesh, Liu, Zhugong, Gause, William, Salgame, Padmini
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0022-1767; 1550-6606
• DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.178.Supp.43.31

Regions of the world with high incidence of Tuberculosis (TB) are also endemic for helminthic diseases. Helminthic infection elicits a profound Th2 immune response, which may alter theTh1 response necessary for the protection to TB. The impactof Th2 responses on the protective immune response elicited to TB is poorly understood. We co-infected BALB/c mice with the nematode Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (Nb) followed by virulent Erdman strain of Mtb via aerosolization. At 4 and 7 weeks post-Mtb infection, co-infected mice displayed significantly higher bacterial burden compared to mice infected with Mtb alone. Furthermore, the enhanced disease progression was accompanied by a shift in the Mtb-induced Th1 response to a Th2 response in the co-infected mice as demonstrated by an increase in Th2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-10. Taken together, theseresults demonstrate that helminth infection alters the ability of the host to mount an effective immune response to TB and modulates the course of tuberculosis disease. Clinically, elucidating the mechanisms which underlie alteration of immunity to TB will facilitate in the better design of TB vaccines and therapies.