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• González-Torres, C
• González-Martínez, H
• Miliar, A
• Nájera, O
• Graniel, J
• Firo, V
• Alvarez, C
• Bonilla, E
• Rodríguez, L
• [+] on Google Scholar
• González-Torres, C
• González-Martínez, H
• Miliar, A
• Nájera, O
• Graniel, J
• Firo, V
• Alvarez, C
• Bonilla, E
• Rodríguez, L
• [+] on PubMed
• González-Torres, C
• González-Martínez, H
• Miliar, A
• Nájera, O
• Graniel, J
• Firo, V
• Alvarez, C
• Bonilla, E
• Rodríguez, L

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Nutrients 2013, 5(2), 579-593; doi:10.3390/nu5020579

Article

Effect of Malnutrition on the Expression of Cytokines Involved in Th1 Cell Differentiation

Cristina González-Torres ^1,* , Haydeé González-Martínez ¹ , Angel Miliar ² , Oralia Nájera ³ , Jaime Graniel ⁴ , Verónica Firo ⁵ , Catalina Alvarez ⁵ , Edmundo Bonilla ¹  and Leonor Rodríguez ¹

¹ Department of Health Sciences, Autonomus Metropolitan University-Iztapalapa, San Rafael Atlixco 186, CP 09340, México D.F., Mexico ² Postgraduate Study Section, High School of Medicine, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Plan de San Luis y Díaz Mirón s/n, CP 11340, México D.F., Mexico ³ Department of Health Care, Autonomus Metropolitan University-Xochimilco, Calz. del Hueso 1100, CP 04960, México D.F., Mexico ⁴ Pediatric Hospital-Iztapalapa, Servicios de Salud Gobierno del Distrito Federal, Calzada Ermita Iztapalapa 780, CP 09070, México D.F., Mexico ⁵ General Hospital of Mexico, Servicio de Pediatría, Urgencias y Terapia Intensiva, Secretaría de Salud, Dr. Balmis 148, CP 06726, México D.F., Mexico

* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received: 5 December 2012; in revised form: 25 January 2013 / Accepted: 5 February 2013 / Published: 19 February 2013

Download PDF Full-Text [669 KB, uploaded 19 February 2013 11:23 CET]

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: malnutrition; Type 1 immunological response; cytokines

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