Malnutrition in Healthy Individuals Results in Increased Mixed Cytokine Profiles, Altered Neutrophil Subsets and Function

Abstract

Malnutrition is commonly associated with increased infectious disease susceptibility and severity. Whereas malnutrition might enhance the incidence of disease as well as its severity, active infection can in turn exacerbate malnutrition. Therefore, in a malnourished individual suffering from a severe infection, it is not possible to determine the contribution of the pre-existing malnutrition and/or the infection itself to increased disease severity. In the current study we focussed on two groups of malnourished, but otherwise healthy individuals: moderately malnourished (BMI: 18.4–16.5) and severely malnourished (BMI <16.5) and compared several immune parameters with those of individuals with a normal BMI (≥18.5). Our results show a similar haematological profile in all three groups, as well as a similar ratio of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. We found significant correlations between low BMI and increased levels of T helper (Th) 1 (Interferon (IFN)-γ, (interleukin (IL)-2, IL-12), Th2 (IL-4, IL-5, IL-13), as well as IL-10, IL-33 and tumor necrosis factor-α, but not IL-8 or C reactive protein. The activities of arginase, an enzyme associated with immunosuppression, were similar in plasma, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and neutrophils from all groups and no differences in the expression levels of CD3ζ, a marker of T cell activation, were observed in CD4+ and CD8+T cells. Furthermore, whereas the capacity of neutrophils from the malnourished groups to phagocytose particles was not impaired, their capacity to produce reactive oxygen species was impaired. Finally we evaluated the frequency of a subpopulation of low-density neutrophils and show that they are significantly increased in the malnourished individuals. These differences were more pronounced in the severely malnourished group. In summary, our results show that even in the absence of apparent infections, healthy malnourished individuals display dysfunctional immune responses that might contribute to increased susceptibility and severity to infectious diseases.

The relationship between malnutrition risk and inflammatory biomarkers in outpatient geriatric population

“…Further evidence of the relationship of malnutrition with inflammation is the study by Takele et al who found a significant correlation between low BMI and increased levels of IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-12, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, IL-10, IL-33, and TNFα; however, not IL-8 or CRP. Their results show that even in the absence of apparent infections, healthy malnourished individuals display dysfunctional immune responses which may cause increased susceptibility to infectious diseases with more severe presentations [40].…”

Immune Responses of the Critically Endangered Yangtze Finless Porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis ssp. asiaeorientalis) to Escalating Anthropogenic Stressors in the Wild and Seminatural Environments

“…Both malnutrition and infection are linked. Malnutrition in healthy individuals with a low body-mass index can increase the expression levels of various cytokines (Takele et al, 2016). Both pregnancy and lactating states are energetically the costliest (Scantlebury et al, 2000;Kastelein et al, 2002) and therefore requires increased food intake (East et al, 2015).…”

Effect of guava and vitamin C supplementation on experimental gingivitis: A randomized clinical trial

“…Although neutrophil capacity to phagocytose is not impaired, the capacity to produce reactive oxygen species is impaired. It was suggested that these dysfunctional immune responses displayed in healthy severely malnourished individuals might contribute to increased susceptibility to infectious diseases (Takele et al., ). This suggestion is supported by the present finding that despite guava consumption this subject developed 48% BGS.…”