Gastrointestinal nematode infection is associated with variation in innate immune responsiveness

Ex vivo monocyte cytokine responses (IL-1 β, TNF-α, IL-12p70, IL-10, TGF-β) to bacterial TLR2 and TLR4 ligands were quantified in 47 gastrointestinal (GI) nematode-exposed children in Pemba Island, Tanzania. Worminess (estimated by faecal egg counts (FEC)) had a positive relationship with pro-inflammatory TNF-α and IL-1β responsiveness to the TLR ligands. In particular, there was a strong significant relationship with TNF-α response to TLR4 ligand (LPS). There were no significant associations between regulatory responses (IL-10, TGF-β) 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.