Pathways to the impairment of human nutritional status by gastrointestinal pathogens

Solomons, Noel W.

doi:10.1017/s003118200007548x

Cited by 78 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 104 publications

(91 reference statements)

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“…Furthermore, when infection coincides with adolescence, especially when it happens when the child grows most (pubescence), the maximum response potential of bone, muscle and fat tissue growth can be reduced because of changes in the metabolic processes that involve nutrients and because of the hormonal influences associated with growth 26 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association between geohelminth infections and physical growth in schoolchildren

Silva

Assis

2008

Rev. Nutr.

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ObjectiveThis study aims to assess the association between geohelminth infections and the physical growth of schoolchildren. MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study with the participation of 1861 children aging from 7 to 14 years who live in a municipality in the Southern region (Recôncavo) of the State of Bahia. The participants were submitted to anthropometric assessment and stool tests. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used as the statistical means to determine the association of interest. ResultsThe risks of stunting were greater among boys with Ascaris lumbricoides (Odds ratio=1.79; confidence interval 95%: 1.07-3.01), Trichuris trichiura (Odds ratio=2.26; confidence interval 95%: 1.33-3.84) and ancylostomiasis (Odds ratio=2.18; confidence interval 95%: 1.28-3.73) when compared with non-infected children. These results remained unchanged after adjustments for the location of the school, children's ages and other geohelminth infections. ConclusionThese infections did not compromise girls´ growth. These results emphasize the association between geohelminth infection and linear physical growth, indicating the need to implement preventive and curative measures that allow the quality of life of the children to improve since the repercussion that these parasites have on the nutritional status and health of this population is severe.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association between geohelminth infections and physical growth in schoolchildren

Silva

Assis

2008

Rev. Nutr.

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“…Chronic helminth infections, especially those caused by the species residing in the gastrointestinal tract, can result in malnutrition, primarily as a result of impaired uptake of nutrients [72][73][74]. It is known that undernutrition can result in a compromised function of both the innate and adaptive immune system [75].…”

Section: Apoptosis and Nutritionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Helminths and dendritic cells: Sensing and regulating via pattern recognition receptors, Th2 and Treg responses

et al. 2010

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The classical reaction of the host to helminth infections is the induction of Th2 immune responses with a regulatory component. DC, as central players in the induction and maintenance of immune responses, play a prominent role in both these processes, and in recent years considerable progress has been made in elucidating the mechanisms behind the interplay between DC and helminths. It is becoming increasingly clear that helminths modulate DC function not only via direct interactions but also indirectly via host-derived cues. Furthermore, while studies have until recently focused on receptor signalingmediated DC modulation by helminths, evidence is emerging that DC may also respond to helminth infections by sensing stress signals or tissue damage inflicted by the worms or their products. Here, we will discuss these new insights and will link them to the origin and importance of Th2 and regulatory immune responses with respect to the survival of both parasite and host.Key words: DC . Helminth . Th cell polarization . Tissue damage IntroductionThe classical reaction of the host to helminth infections is the induction of Th2 responses. The induction of Th2 immunity has been shown to be important for resistance to helminth infections in various model systems; however, despite induction of a Th2 response, total clearance of the parasites rarely occurs in man (reviewed in [1,2]). This implies that helminths have evolved strategies, such as evasion or suppression of the host immune response that prevent their expulsion and permit their long-term survival. The immune modulatory effects are thought to arise from the helminth's capacity to exploit the host's own system of immune regulation, which is normally crucial for the maintenance of immune homeostasis and self tolerance. In this respect, the induction of Treg has been shown to be one of the most common mechanisms that restrains immune responses against the parasite while also preventing excessive inflammation and tissue damage inflicted by the worms (reviewed in [2,3]). Therefore, it is not surprising that among the variety of mechanisms developed by helminths to influence host immune responses, modulation of DC as pivotal players in the initiation and polarization of adaptive immune responses, including Treg modulation, may have a particularly important role (reviewed in [2,4,5] ) carbohydrate epitope found in schistosoma soluble egg antigens (SEA), has been implicated in TLR4-dependent priming of Th2 responses via DC [9]. However, SEA is also known to be capable of modulating DC for Th2 priming in the absence of TLR signaling [10]. Furthermore, phosphatidylserine (PS) lipids derived from schistosomes and ascaris worms, which carry TLR2-activating molecules, have been shown to promote Th2 responses via DC, but this is not TLR2 dependent [11], whereas monoacetylated PS lipids from schistosomes were found to specifically instruct DC to preferentially induce IL-10-producing Treg in a TLR2-dependent fashion [12]. Although TLR2 does not seem to be essential for Th2 polar...

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“…In addition to the direct metabolic costs, pathogens and associated immune responses may disrupt normal processes of nutrient digestion and absorption (Mata, 1992;Solomons, 1993). Recent research indicates that diarrhea may cause damage to the intestinal mucosa that impairs nutrient absorption well beyond the point of recovery, potentially leading to a pernicious cycle of infection and malnutrition (Lunn, 2000;Lunn et al, 1991).…”

Section: Nutrition and The Energetics Of Immune Functionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Life history theory and the immune system: Steps toward a human ecological immunology

McDade¹

2003

Am. J. Phys. Anthropol.

288

305

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KEY WORDSimmunology; human biology; growth and development; evolutionary theory; infectious disease ABSTRACTWithin anthropology and human biology, there is growing interest in immune function and its importance to the ecology of human health and development. Biomedical research currently dominates our understanding of immunology, and this paper seeks to highlight the potential contribution of a population-based, ecological approach to the study of human immune function. Concepts from life-history theory are applied to highlight the major challenges and demands that are likely to shape immune function in a range of ecological contexts. Immune function is a major component of maintenance effort, and since resources are limited, trade-offs are expected between investment in maintenance and other critical life-history functions involving growth and reproduction. An adaptationist, life-history perspective helps make sense of the unusual developmental trajectory of immune tissues, and emphasizes that this complex system is designed to incorporate information from the surrounding ecology to guide its development. As a result, there is substantial population variation in immune development and function that is not considered by current biomedical approaches. In an attempt to construct a framework for understanding this variation, immune development is considered in relation to the competing life-history demands that define gestation, infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Each life stage poses a unique set of adaptive challenges, and a series of hypotheses is proposed regarding their implications for immune development and function. Research in human ecological immunology is in its earliest stages, but this is a promising area of exploration, and one in which anthropology is wellpositioned to make important contributions. Yrbk Phys Research on human immune function has proliferated in the past 25 years, leading to fundamental insights into basic physiology, as well as strategies for the prevention and treatment of a wide range of diseases. The complexity of the immune system is daunting, and current biomedical research elaborates this complexity by focusing almost exclusively on cellular-and molecular-level processes. The majority of this research uses animal models, with human research participants drawn primarily from clinical settings. Complementary population-based research in international health has observed consistent, bidirectional associations between undernutrition and infectious morbidity, sparking interest in immunocompetence as a potentially important mediator (Chandra, 1988;Gershwin et al., 2000;Hoffman-Goetz, 1986;Pelletier et al., 1995;Suskind and Tontisirin, 2001).The significance of these contributions should not be overlooked, but something is missing. Human physiological systems are products of natural selection, designed to develop and function in whole organisms that are integral components of surrounding social and physical environments (Oyama, 1985;Williams and Nesse, 1991). The immune s...

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Pathways to the impairment of human nutritional status by gastrointestinal pathogens

Cited by 78 publications

References 104 publications

Association between geohelminth infections and physical growth in schoolchildren

Association between geohelminth infections and physical growth in schoolchildren

Helminths and dendritic cells: Sensing and regulating via pattern recognition receptors, Th2 and Treg responses

Life history theory and the immune system: Steps toward a human ecological immunology

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