Profiles of CD4<sup>+</sup>, CD8<sup>+</sup>, and regulatory T cells and circulating cytokines in hookworm-infected children in southern Thailand
Issued Date
2022-02-01
Resource Type
ISSN
03008584
eISSN
14321831
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85120435154
Pubmed ID
34854999
Journal Title
Medical Microbiology and Immunology
Volume
211
Issue
1
Start Page
19
End Page
28
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Medical Microbiology and Immunology Vol.211 No.1 (2022) , 19-28
Suggested Citation
Phasuk N., Apiwattanakul N., Punsawad C. Profiles of CD4<sup>+</sup>, CD8<sup>+</sup>, and regulatory T cells and circulating cytokines in hookworm-infected children in southern Thailand. Medical Microbiology and Immunology Vol.211 No.1 (2022) , 19-28. 28. doi:10.1007/s00430-021-00723-4 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/85032
Title
Profiles of CD4<sup>+</sup>, CD8<sup>+</sup>, and regulatory T cells and circulating cytokines in hookworm-infected children in southern Thailand
Author(s)
Author's Affiliation
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Hookworm infection is the most common human helminthic infection in the rural areas of southern Thailand. There is little information on the induced cellular immune responses in hookworm-infected children. The present study aimed to investigate the cellular immune responses, regulatory T cells (Tregs), Th1-type cytokines (interleukin (IL)-2 and interferon (IFN)-γ), a Th2-type cytokine (IL-5) and IL-10, which is one of the cytokines secreted by Tregs in hookworm-infected children. Twenty-nine schoolchildren diagnosed with hookworm infections and 28 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and Tregs in whole blood were analyzed using flow cytometry. Plasma IL-2, IL-5, IL-10 and IFN-γ concentrations were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The median CD4+ T cell frequency was significantly higher in hookworm-infected children than healthy controls. Compared to healthy controls, hookworm-infected children had a significantly increased absolute number of Tregs. No differences in circulating CD8+ T cell median frequency or absolute numbers were observed among hookworm-infected children or healthy controls. Elevated IL-2 and IL-10 concentrations were found in hookworm-infected children. Moreover, the absolute number of Tregs was significantly positively correlated with the plasma IL-10 concentration (rs = 0.406, P = 0.029). This study showed that hookworm-infected schoolchildren had significantly different immune responses than healthy controls, including an increase in the CD4+ T cell number, a significant induction of Tregs and significantly elevated circulating IL-10 levels. These alterations could be the mechanism underlying the immunomodulation that alleviates allergic diseases among hookworm-infected individuals.