PMID: 28502156Jan 1, 2016Paper

HCV Infection Amplified Th2 Bias and Th17 Responses In Schistosoma-Infected Patients

The Egyptian Journal of Immunology
Soad NadyShata Mt

Abstract

Schistosomiasis and HCV are the most prevalent infections in Egypt Schistosoma infection is associated with bias towards Th2 responses. Plasma from 17 (Schistosoma-infected), 39 (Schistosoma/HCV co-infected) and 23 controls were collected. Cytokine multiplex array was used to measure 6 plasma cytokine levels representing the surrogate markers of three T helper lymphocytes subpopulations; IL-12 (Th1), IL-4 and IL-10 (Th2), IL-17, IL-22 and IL-23 (Th17). There was a significant increase in plasma levels of IL-17 and IL-23 in co-infected patients compared to Schistosoma-infected patients. As well, there was a significant increase in the Th2 regulatory cytokines IL-10 and IL-4 in co-infected group compared to Schistosoma-infected patients. However, no significant changes were observed in the Th1 cytokine (IL-12) among the groups. In conclusion, presence of HCV infection shifted the response towards Th2/Th17 pathway which may play a role in the progressive pathogenesis of HCV in Schistosoma-co-infected patients.

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