Helminth infection is associated with dampened cytokine responses to viral and bacterial stimulations in Tsimane forager-horticulturalists

Abstract

Consistent with the 'old friends' and hygiene hypotheses, we find that STHs were associated with dampened cytokine responses to certain viral and bacterial antigens. This suggests that STH infections may play an essential role in immune response regulation and that the lack of STH immune priming in industrialized populations may increase the risk of over-reactive immunity. <b>Lay Summary:</b> Indicators of helminth infection were associated with dampened cytokine immune responses to <i>in vitro</i> stimulation with viral and bacterial antigens in Tsimane forager-horticulturalists in the Bolivian Amazon, consistent with the 'old friends' and hygiene hypotheses.