TY - JOUR
T1 - The Infection, Coinfection, and Abundance of Intestinal Protozoa Increase the Serum Levels of IFABP2 and TNF-α in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis
AU - Guzmán-Guzmán, Iris Paola
AU - Nogueda-Torres, Benjamín
AU - Zaragoza-García, Oscar
AU - Navarro-Zarza, José Eduardo
AU - Briceño, Olivia
AU - Pérez-Rubio, Gloria
AU - Falfán-Valencia, Ramcés
AU - Gutiérrez-Pérez, Ilse Adriana
AU - Parra-Rojas, Isela
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2022 Guzmán-Guzmán, Nogueda-Torres, Zaragoza-García, Navarro-Zarza, Briceño, Pérez-Rubio, Falfán-Valencia, Gutiérrez-Pérez and Parra-Rojas.
PY - 2022/4/12
Y1 - 2022/4/12
N2 - Protozoa, nematodes, and platyhelminths are of clinical interest due to their role on the modulation of the immune responses. To determine the frequency of infection by intestinal parasites as well as the status of single or mixed infection (coinfection) and its relation with inflammation and intestinal permeability markers in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a cross-sectional study was conducted in 18 women diagnosed with RA. A fecal sample of each participant was analyzed for parasitic identification. The DAS28-erythrocyte sedimentation rate score, as well as the serum levels of TNF-α, IL-10, IL-17A, and the intestinal fatty-acid binding protein 2 (IFABP2), was determined through the ELISA technique. The T CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes' proportions were determined by flow cytometry. In this study, 50% (n = 9) of the total sample tested were positive to the presence of intestinal protozoa (27% by single infection and 22.2% by coinfection). Blastocystis sp. and Endolimax nana were the most frequently identified protozoa. The serum levels of IFABP2 were increased in patients with infection by protozoa, mainly in those individuals with coinfection and a larger abundance of Blastocystis sp. We found that coinfection by protozoa was related to higher levels of TNF-α and higher frequency of T CD4+ lymphocytes, mainly in patients under antirheumatic treatment. Infection by intestinal protozoa is associated with increased intestinal permeability in patients with RA; thus, infection, coinfection, and abundance of intestinal protozoa should be clinically screened because they could be an associated factor to the clinical variability of the disease.
AB - Protozoa, nematodes, and platyhelminths are of clinical interest due to their role on the modulation of the immune responses. To determine the frequency of infection by intestinal parasites as well as the status of single or mixed infection (coinfection) and its relation with inflammation and intestinal permeability markers in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a cross-sectional study was conducted in 18 women diagnosed with RA. A fecal sample of each participant was analyzed for parasitic identification. The DAS28-erythrocyte sedimentation rate score, as well as the serum levels of TNF-α, IL-10, IL-17A, and the intestinal fatty-acid binding protein 2 (IFABP2), was determined through the ELISA technique. The T CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes' proportions were determined by flow cytometry. In this study, 50% (n = 9) of the total sample tested were positive to the presence of intestinal protozoa (27% by single infection and 22.2% by coinfection). Blastocystis sp. and Endolimax nana were the most frequently identified protozoa. The serum levels of IFABP2 were increased in patients with infection by protozoa, mainly in those individuals with coinfection and a larger abundance of Blastocystis sp. We found that coinfection by protozoa was related to higher levels of TNF-α and higher frequency of T CD4+ lymphocytes, mainly in patients under antirheumatic treatment. Infection by intestinal protozoa is associated with increased intestinal permeability in patients with RA; thus, infection, coinfection, and abundance of intestinal protozoa should be clinically screened because they could be an associated factor to the clinical variability of the disease.
KW - IFABP2
KW - infection status
KW - inflammation
KW - intestinal protozoa
KW - rheumatoid arthritis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85128866903&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fmed.2022.846934
DO - 10.3389/fmed.2022.846934
M3 - Artículo
C2 - 35492365
AN - SCOPUS:85128866903
SN - 2296-858X
VL - 9
JO - Frontiers in Medicine
JF - Frontiers in Medicine
M1 - 846934
ER -