Effect of malnutrition on the expression of cytokines involved in Th1 cell differentiation

• Published in: Nutrients Vol. 5; no. 2; pp. 579 - 593
• Main Authors: González-Torres, Cristina, González-Martínez, Haydeé, Miliar, Angel, Nájera, Oralia, Graniel, Jaime, Firo, Verónica, Alvarez, Catalina, Bonilla, Edmundo, Rodríguez, Leonor
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 19.02.2013; MDPI
• Subjects: Bacterial infections; Bacterial Infections - complications; Bacterial Infections - immunology; Cell Differentiation - immunology; Cells; Cytokines; Cytokines - genetics; Electronic mail systems; Female; Gastrointestinal Diseases - complications; Gastrointestinal Diseases - immunology; Gastrointestinal Diseases - microbiology; Gene Expression; Hospitalization; Hospitals; Humans; Immunology; Infant; Infections; Interferon-gamma - blood; Interleukin-12 - genetics; Interleukin-12 - immunology; Interleukin-18 - genetics; Interleukin-18 - immunology; Interleukin-2 - blood; Interleukins - genetics; Interleukins - immunology; Lymphocytes; Male; Malnutrition; Malnutrition - complications; Malnutrition - immunology; Medical ethics; Pediatrics; Respiratory Tract Infections - complications; Respiratory Tract Infections - immunology; Th1 Cells - immunology; Type 1 immunological response; Mexico
• ISSN: 2072-6643; 2072-6643
• DOI: 10.3390/nu5020579

Malnutrition is a common cause of secondary immune deficiency and has been linked to an increased susceptibility to infection in humans. Malnutrition specifically affects T-cell-mediated immune responses. The aim of this study was to assess in lymphocytes from malnourished children the expression levels of IL-12, IL-18 and IL-21, molecules that induce the differentiation of T cells related to the immunological cellular response (Th1 response) and the production of cytokines related to the immunological cellular response (Th1 cytokines). We found that the expression levels of IL-12, IL-18 and IL-21 were significantly diminished in malnourished children compared to well-nourished children and were coincident with lower plasmatic levels of IL-2 and IFN-γ (Th1 cytokines). In this study, we show for the first time that the gene expression and intracellular production of cytokines responsible for Th1 cell differentiation (IL-12, IL-18 and IL-21) are diminished in malnourished children. As expected, this finding was related to lower plasmatic levels of IL-2 and IFN-γ. The decreased expression of Th1 cytokines observed in this study may contribute to the deterioration of the immunological Type 1 (cellular) response. We hypothesize that the decreased production of IL-12, IL-18 and IL-21 in malnourished children contributes to their inability to eradicate infections.