Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0235394 (wasting)
 8,040 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We examined whether vitamin A improved mucosal immune depression in mice with wasting protein deficiency. In male C3H/HeN mice fed a semi-purified 1% protein diet for 2 wk, plasma retinol and immunoglobulin A (IgA) concentrations in the small intestinal mucosa were 50 and 55%, respectively, of those in mice fed a semi-purified 20% protein diet, (P < 0.05). Daily supplementation of 0.3 mg of retinyl acetate to protein-deficient mice for 2 wk increased the plasma retinol level to the value in the protein-sufficient mice. However, 1 mg/d of retinyl acetate was required to prevent the decline of the IgA level caused by the protein deficiency. Mice fed the low-protein diet had lower concentrations of IL-4 and IL-5 in the small intestinal mucosa and fewer IL-4- and IL-5-containing cells in the lamina propria (P < 0. 05). Retinyl acetate (1 mg) significantly restored the IL-5 level and the number of IL-4- and IL-5-containing cells. After immunization with 20 microg of cholera toxin (CT), the intestinal mucosa of protein-deficient mice contained significantly less CT-specific IgA than control mice. Treatment with 1 mg of retinyl acetate prevented the decline of anti-CT IgA level in the protein-deficient mice, improving their survival rate after an exposure to 0.1 mg of CT. These results suggest that large oral supplements of vitamin A may preserve mucosal IgA level during protein malnutrition, possibly by stimulating Th2 cytokine production and thereby, inducing resistance against infection.
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PMID:Vitamin A prevents the decline in immunoglobulin A and Th2 cytokine levels in small intestinal mucosa of protein-malnourished mice. 1022 82

Infection with Toxoplasma gondii leads to a Th1 immune response. Alternatively, the acarian Myocoptes musculinus induces a disease in BALB/c mice that involves Th2 immune mechanisms. In this study, we investigated whether infestation by M. musculinus induces Th2 immune response in C57BL/6 mice and if this response influences the T. gondii-induced Th1 response when mice are inoculated by intraperitoneal or oral route. The animals were infected with M. musculinus and one month later with T. gondii ME-49 strain and the survival and immune response were monitored. The co-infected animals displayed higher mortality rate and the spleen cells showed a decreased IFN-gamma and elevated IL-4 and IL-5 production. These changes were associated with severe pneumonia and wasting condition. On the other hand, when mice were orally infected with 100 T. gondii cysts, co-infection prolonged the survival rates and ameliorated intestinal lesions in association with a significant drop in IFN-gamma levels in sera. These results indicate the interference of Th2 response induced by M. musculinus in a T. gondii-induced Th1 response. Altogether, these data demonstrate the profound interactions between the immune response induced against unrelated organisms T. gondii and M. musculinus, and suggest that this type of interactions may impact clinical disease.
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PMID:An opposite role is exerted by the acarian Myocoptes musculinus in the outcome of Toxoplasma gondii infection according to the route of the protozoa inoculation. 1705 64

We have previously shown a reduction in anaemia and wasting malnutrition in infants <3 years old in Pemba Island, Zanzibar, following repeated anthelminthic treatment for the endemic gastrointestinal (GI) nematodes Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm and Trichuris trichiura. In view of the low intensity of worm infections in this age group, this was unexpected, and it was proposed that immune responses to the worms rather than their direct effects may play a significant role in morbidity in infants and that anthelminthic treatment may alleviate such effects. Therefore, the primary aims of this study were to characterise the immune response to initial/early GI nematode infections in infants and the effects of anthelminthic treatment on such immune responses. The frequency and levels of Th1/Th2 cytokines (IL-5, IL-13, IFN-gamma and IL-10) induced by the worms were evaluated in 666 infants aged 6-24 months using the Whole Blood Assay. Ascaris and hookworm antigens induced predominantly Th2 cytokine responses, and levels of IL-5 and IL-13 were significantly correlated. The frequencies and levels of responses were higher for both Ascaris positive and hookworm positive infants compared with worm negative individuals, but very few infants made Trichuris-specific cytokine responses. Infants treated every 3 months with mebendazole showed a significantly lower prevalence of infection compared with placebo-treated controls at one year following baseline. At follow-up, cytokine responses to Ascaris and hookworm antigens, which remained Th2 biased, were increased compared with baseline but were not significantly affected by treatment. However, blood eosinophil levels, which were elevated in worm-infected children, were significantly lower in treated children. Thus the effect of deworming in this age group on anaemia and wasting malnutrition, which were replicated in this study, could not be explained by modification of cytokine responses but may be related to eosinophil function.
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PMID:Early exposure of infants to GI nematodes induces Th2 dominant immune responses which are unaffected by periodic anthelminthic treatment. 1943 45