HCV Infection Amplified Th2 Bias and Th17 Responses In Schistosoma-Infected Patients

Schistosomiasis and HCV are the most prevalent infections in Egypt Schistosoma infection is associated with bias towards Th2 responses. Plasma from 17 (Schistosoma-infected), 39 (Schistosoma/HCV co-infected) and 23 controls were collected. Cytokine multiplex array was used to measure 6 plasma cytokine levels representing the surrogate markers of three T helper lymphocytes subpopulations; IL-12 (Th1), IL-4 and IL-10 (Th2), IL-17, IL-22 and IL-23 (Th17). There was a significant increase in plasma levels of IL-17 and IL-23 in co-infected patients compared to Schistosoma-infected patients. As well, there was a significant increase in the Th2 regulatory cytokines IL-10 and IL-4 in co-infected group compared to Schistosoma-infected patients. However, no significant changes were observed in the Th1 cytokine (IL-12) among the groups. In conclusion, presence of HCV infection shifted the response towards Th2/Th17 pathway which may play a role in the progressive pathogenesis of HCV in Schistosoma-co-infected patients.