The relationship of endotoxaemia to peripheral and central nervous system inflammatory responses in Human African Trypanosomiasis

MacLean, L., Aboubaker, E. A., Kennedy, P. G.E. and Sternberg, J. M. (2017) The relationship of endotoxaemia to peripheral and central nervous system inflammatory responses in Human African Trypanosomiasis. Parasitology, 144(4), pp. 557-562. (doi: 10.1017/S0031182016002158) (PMID:27894360) (PMCID:PMC5368686)

Abstract

Endotoxaemia has been described in cases of Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), but it is unclear if this phenomenon influences inflammatory pathology either in the periphery or central nervous system (CNS). We studied endotoxin concentrations in the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense patients using the chromogenic Limulus Amoebocyte lysate assay. The relationship of endotoxin concentration to the presentation of gross signs of inflammation and the inflammatory/counter-inflammatory cytokine profile of the relevant compartments were analysed. We demonstrate that HAT patients exhibit parasitaemia-independent plasma endotoxaemia, and that this is associated with splenomegaly and lymphadenopathy. Endotoxin concentrations normalize rapidly after treatment. There was no evidence of endotoxin release in the CNS. A rapid normalization of endotoxin levels after treatment and lack of association with parasitaemia suggest that gut leakage is the main source of endotoxin in the circulation. Low CSF endotoxin concentrations and a lack of any association with neuroinflammatory markers or neurological sequelae suggest that endotoxin does not play a role in the pathogenesis of the disease in the CNS.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was funded the Wellcome Trust (grant no. 082786 to J. M. S.).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Kennedy, Professor Peter
• Authors: MacLean, L., Aboubaker, E. A., Kennedy, P. G.E., and Sternberg, J. M.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
• Journal Name: Parasitology
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• ISSN: 0031-1820
• ISSN (Online): 1469-8161
• Published Online: 29 November 2016
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2016 Cambridge University Press
• First Published: First published in Parasitology 144(4):557-562
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License