CD4+ T cell count and HIV-1 viral load dynamics positively impacted by H. pylori infection in HIV-positive patients regardless of ART status in a high-burden setting

BACKGROUND

There is a widespread co-infection of HIV and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) globally, particularly in developing countries, and it has been suggested that this co-infection may affect the course of HIV disease. However, the interplay between H. pylori infection and HIV disease progression is not fully elucidated. In this study, we investigated the effect of H. pylori co-infection on CD4+ T cell count and HIV viral load dynamics in HIV-positive individuals in a high co-endemic setting.

METHODS

A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among 288 HIV-positive and 175 HIV-negative individuals, both with and without H. pylori infection. Among HIV-positive participants, 195 were on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and 93 were ART-naïve. CD4+ T cell count and HIV-1 viral load were measured and compared between H. pylori-infected and -uninfected individuals, taking into account different HIV and ART status.

RESULT

Our study demonstrated that individuals infected with H. pylori had a significantly higher CD4+ T cell count compared to uninfected controls among both HIV-negative and HIV-positive participants, regardless of ART therapy. Conversely, HIV/H. pylori co-infected participants had lower HIV-1 viral load than those without H. pylori infection. Linear regression analysis further confirmed a positive association between H. pylori infection, along with other clinical factors such as BMI, ART, and duration of therapy, with CD4+ T cell count while indicating an inverse relationship with HIV-1 viral load in HIV-positive patients. Additionally, factors such as khat chewing, age and WHO clinical stage of HIV were associated with reduced CD4+ T cell count and increased HIV-1 viral load.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrates that H. pylori co-infection was associated with higher CD4+ T cell count and lower HIV-1 viral load in HIV-positive patients, regardless of ART status. These findings show a positive effect of H. pylori co-infection on the dynamics of HIV-related immunological and virological parameters. Further studies are needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of the observed effects.

Alteration of Endocrine Hormones and Antibody Responses in Different Spectrum of Tuberculosis Disease

Effective control of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection is mediated by multifaceted factors that involve both the endocrine and immune system. Profiling hormones and antibodies in different stages of TB provides insight in the pathogenesis of the disease. In this study, we profiled endocrine hormones (dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), cortisol, testosterone, estradiol, growth hormone and leptins) and Mtb strain H37RV lipoarabinomannan (LAM)-specific antibody levels in plasma samples, collected from pulmonary TB (PTB) patients, TB lymphadenitis (TBLN) patients and latently infected (QFT-positive) or uninfected (QFT-negative) apparently healthy individuals using ELISA. Plasma levels of leptin and DHEA were significantly low in PTB and TBLN patients compared to healthy controls (P<0.0001 and P=0.02, respectively), whereas these levels significantly increased following anti-TB treatment (P=0.002 and P=0.0001, respectively) among TB patients. The levels of estradiol and testosterone significantly improved following anti-TB treatment (P=0.03 and P=0.0003, respectively), whereas cortisol and growth hormones declined significantly (P <0.05). Similarly, LAM-specific IgG, IgM and IgA were significantly higher in PTB patients compared to other groups, whereas levels of IgG1 subtype were significantly higher among LTBI groups compared to both TB patients and QFT-negative individuals (P<0.0001). Overall, we observed significantly variable levels of endocrine hormones as well as immunoglobulins across the spectrum of TB illness and such profiling has a significant contribution in selection of effective biomarkers that have roles in TB treatment monitoring or diagnostics. Although this study did not show a functional association between hormones and antibodies, alterations in the levels of these biomarkers suggest the key roles these markers play in TB pathogenesis.

Association of Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Antigen-4 Gene Polymorphism with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: In silico Analysis of Biological Features of CTLA-4 Protein on Ethiopian Population

BACKGROUND

T1DM is a chronic organ-specific T-cell-mediated autoimmune disease characterized by the selective destruction of β-cells in the islets of Langerhans, resulting in insulin deficiency and hyperglycemia. Genes for cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 have been hypothesized as possible contender genes for T1DM vulnerability. However, it has not been studied in the Ethiopian population yet.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to investigate CTLA-4 exon 1 was linked to A49G polymorphism with T1DM and its biological features of CTLA-4 among T1DM patients, in Ethiopia.

METHODS

A case-control study was done from December 2019 to March 2020 on 210 study participants (105 T1DM patients and 105 healthy controls). Polymerase Chain Reaction amplification with forward and reverse primers was followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism and gel electrophoresis to determine gene polymorphism. Bioinformatics data of SNP was retrieved from National Centers for Biotechnology Information databases. The chi-square test and logistic regression were used. Statistical significance was defined as a P-value of less than 0.05.

RESULTS

The CTLA-4 (+A49G) gene polymorphism was observed on 56 (26.7%) study participants, 39 (18.57%) of T1DM patients, and 17 (0.08%) were controls. In T1DM and controls, the frequency of the A allele was 73.3% and 89.5%, while the G allele was 26.7% and 10.5%, respectively. The G allele was found to be associated with T1DM (OR=3.1; 95% CI, 1.82 -5.32; P=0.001). Statistical analysis revealed an association between the likelihood of T1DM and GG genotype of the CTLA-4 (+A49G) gene polymorphism (OR=3.11; 95% CI, 1.37-10.90; P=0.01). Further in silico analyzed the SNP to assess its biological features.

CONCLUSION

The study showed as CTLA-4 (+A49G) gene polymorphism is linked with T1DM in the Ethiopian population.

Validation of in-house liquid direct agglutination test antigen: the potential diagnostic test in visceral Leishimaniasis endemic areas of Northwest Ethiopia

Background

Visceral leishmaniasis in Ethiopia is a re-emerging threat to public health, with increased geographical distribution and number of cases. It is a fatal disease without early diagnosis and treatment; thus, the availability of affordable diagnostic tools is crucial. However, due to delays caused by import regulations, procurement and late delivery of imported test kits, accessibility remains a problem in the control program. Therefore, we aimed to produce and evaluate the performance of an in-house liquid (AQ) direct agglutination test (DAT) antigen.

Result

The AQ-DAT was produced at the Armauer Hansen Research Institute, using Leishmania donovani strain (MHOM/ET/67/L82). Sera from 272 participants; 110 microscopically confirmed cases of VL, 76 apparently healthy and 86 patients who had infectious disease other than VL were tested with AQ-DAT, and standard kits: Freeze-dried DAT (FD-DAT) and rK39. Taking microscopy as a gold standard; the sensitivity and specificity of the AQ-DAT were 97.3 and 98.8%, respectively. It had high degrees of agreement (k > 0.8), with a significant (P < 0.05) correlation compared to microscopy, FD-DAT, and rK39.

Conclusion

Although further standardization is required, the in-house AQ-DAT could improve diagnostic accessibility, minimize intermittent stock outs and strengthen the national VL control program.

TNF-α (-308) Gene Polymorphism and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Ethiopian Diabetes Patients

BACKGROUND

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disorder resulting from insulin insufficiency or function. Predisposing factors for T2DM are mainly genetic and environmental. Genetic polymorphism of cytokines like tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is suggestive of interference with insulin-sensitive glucose uptake and induces insulin resistance that ultimately could lead to T2DM. In this study, we assessed the effect of TNF-α (-308) G/A gene polymorphism and its association with the development of T2DM in an Ethiopian population.

METHODS

An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted on study subjects with T2DM and non-diabetic healthy controls. DNA was extracted and genotyping was carried out by using amplification refractory mutation system polymerase chain reaction. A genetic-polymorphism on TNF-α (-308) G/A with T2DM was evaluated by logistic regression and Student's t-test. A P-value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

RESULTS

In the present study, we observed a significant association between T2DM and TNF-α (-308) gene polymorphism's GG genotype [χ2 test P = 0.005, OR (95% CI) =2.667 (1.309-5.45d8)]. In contrast, no statistically significant differences were observed in the frequencies of genotypes AA and AG (χ2 test P=0.132 and 0.067, respectively). Moreover, T2DM individuals had higher concentrations of lipid profiles for those carrying the TNF-α (-308) GG genotype as compared to the control group.

CONCLUSION

TNF-α (-308) genetic polymorphism may be implicated in the genetic susceptibility for, as well as the development of T2DM and lipid metabolism in the Ethiopian population. Therefore, a large-scale study and early screening of TNF-α (-308) genetic polymorphism may help in early management and control of diabetes and related outcomes.