Changes in Plasma Cytokines after Treatment of Ascaris lumbricoides Infection in Individuals with HIV-1 Infection

Albendazole treatment of individuals with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and Ascaris lumbricoides coinfection has led to significantly improved CD4+ cell counts and a trend for lower plasma HIV-1 RNA levels in a previous randomized placebo-controlled trial. To define mechanisms by which deworming contributed to changes in markers of HIV- 1 disease progression, plasma cytokine levels were evaluated. Albendazole treatment, compared with placebo, was associated with significantly decreased plasma interleukin (IL) 10 levels (P=.04) but was not associated with significant changes in levels of IL-1b, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-12p70, IL- 13, interferon γ, tumor necrosis factor α, or thymic stromal lymphopoietin. Treatment of A. lumbricoides co-infectionmay delay HIV-1 disease progression by reducing helminth-induced, IL-10-mediated immunosuppression.