Gastrointestinal nematode infection is associated with variation in innate immune responsiveness

Ex vivo monocyte cytokine responses (IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, IL-12p70, IL-10, TGF-beta) to bacterial TLR2 and TLR4 ligands were quantified in 47 gastrointestinal (GI) nematode-ex posed children in Pemba Island, Tanzania. Worminess (estimated by faecal egg counts (FEC)) had a positive relationship with pro-inflammatory TNF-a and IL-10 responsiveness to the TLR ligands. In particular, there was a strong significant relationship with TNF-alpha response to TLR4 ligand (LPS). There were no significant associations between regulatory responses (IL-10,TGF-beta) and worminess. These results are consistent with the possibility that GI nematodes modulate innate responses and may indicate a potential mechanism for interactions between GI nematodiasis and important bystander pathogens. (c) 2005 Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.