Immuno-endocrine response in human tuberculosis: Assessment of plasma levels of leptin, IL-6 and C reactive protein (CRP)

SANTUCCI, NATALIA; D'ATTILIO, LUCIANO; DEL REY, ADRIANA; BESEDOVSKY, HUGO; BAY, MARÍA LUISA

Congreso; IX Congreso de la Asociación Latinoamericana de Inmunología ALAI 2009; 2009

Wasting is a prominent feature in Tuberculosis (TB), but its underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. It is now evident that cytokine-hormone interactions play a role in host metabolism during infection. Leptin, produced primarily by adipocytes, constitutes a link between immunity and nutrition as it reduces food intake, augments energy expenditure, redirects Th1 responses and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. As such, we have assessed 48 newly diagnosed patients with pulmonary TB (11 mild, 19 moderate, 18 severe), 20 household contacts -HHC- and 29 healthy controls –Hco- (all of them HIV negative with no major differences in age and sex distribution) for their plasma levels of leptin, IL-6, CRP and BMI (weight/height2). HHC displayed higher levels of leptin respect to Hco and TB patients (P<0.001). Comparison among TB patients showed a gradual decrease in leptin concentrations with increasing disease severity. A positive correlation between this hormone and BMI was observed in Hco, (P <0.05). In contrast, levels of IL-6 and PCR were found augmented in TB patients respect the Hco and HHC groups (P <0.001). Since HHC are known to course a latent subclinical infection, it seems clear that immunoprotective and immunopathological conditions coexist with a different profile of immune-endocrine markers.