![Clostridium difficile, or C. diff, bacterium](https://www.uc.edu/news/articles/legacy/healthnews/2012/05/h20330/jcr:content/image.img.cq5dam.thumbnail.500.500.jpg/1534517985046.jpg)
T Cell Imbalance Increases Risk for Gastrointestinal Infection Recurrence
CINCINNATIUniversity of Cincinnati researchers have found that an imbalance in the regulation of certain T cellsthe cells in the body that fight off infection or attack the system in certain autoimmune diseasesmay put certain people at a higher risk of having recurrent cases of Clostridium difficile, or C. Diff, infection.
These findings are being presented via poster during Digestive Disease Week, Monday, May 21, 2012, in San Diego.
C. difficile is a bacterium that can be naturally found inside the digestive tract, but if an overgrowth occurs, it can cause symptoms ranging from diarrhea to life-threatening inflammation of the colon. Illness from C. difficile was once more common in older adults who were hospitalized or in long-term care facilities and typically occurred after use of antibiotic medications; however, its becoming more frequent in the general population and is more difficult and expensive to treat.
"Fifteen to 20 percent of patients with C. diff infection have recurrence after the completion of initial antibiotic treatmentwhich is the current standard of careand up to 65 percent of this group of patients have a recurrent infection, says Bruce Yacyshyn, MD, professor in the digestive diseases division and lead investigator on the research. "The ability of the patient to clear the infection has been linked to antibody molecules, known as IgG, to toxins from the bacterium, but little research has done to study T cell response in initial and recurrent patients.
T cells, or T lymphocytes, belong to a group of white blood cells known as lymphocytes and play a central role in cell-mediated immunity.
In the study, researchers identified patients as initial (never having prior C. diff infection), or recurrent (having at least one documented infection within two weeks to one year after antibiotic treatment) and drew blood samples to be analyzed for T cell counts. Healthy control subjects and case controls, or patients in the hospital with similar risks to C. diff patients, were also examined.
"All patients with C. diff infection were found to have a lower T cell count in their blood samples and have significantly more regulatory cells, which play a part in bacterial intestinal balance but can also activate and direct other T cells to fight, he says. "Although high in both groups, there were no significant differences in the levels of T cells that cause harmful autoimmune, or inflammatory, responses (TH17+) in patients with initial infection and recurrent infection.
Yacyshyn says that researchers do think that the trenda greater percentage of both the "regulatory cells and the TH17 cells in recurrent patientscould be an important finding for targeting recurrence rates.
"In identifying these cells as being more prevalent in patients who have recurrent infection, we can eventually create targeted molecular therapies to regulate their activation and stop recurrence, he continues. "This pharmacoeconomic analysis could save hospitals and patients millions of dollars in treatment costs and could greatly improve patient care by targeting the specific mechanism that are not allowing the infection to be cured.
These studies have been funded through the Merck-Investigator Initiated studies program. Yacyshyn cites no conflict of interest.
Tags
Related Stories
UC study: Brain organ plays key role in adult neurogenesis
July 2, 2024
The University of Cincinnati has published research in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that found the choroid plexus and cerebrospinal fluid play a key role in maintaining a pool of newly born neurons to repair the adult brain after injury.
Put down that beer; it's not a tanning lotion
![WVXU logo](/content/dam/refresh/uc-news/news-icons/dark/wvxu.png)
July 1, 2024
The University of Cincinnati's Kelly Dobos joined WVXU's Cincinnati Edition to discuss what's fact and what's myth when it comes to sunscreen use, different kinds of sunscreen and a social media recommendation to use beer on your skin to help get a tan.
Cincinnati researchers want to know if MRIs can work better
![WVXU logo](/content/dam/refresh/uc-news/news-icons/dark/wvxu.png)
June 28, 2024
WVXU and the Cincinnati Business Courier highlighted a new collaboration between the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, UC Health GE HealthCare, JobsOhio, REDI Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children’s to create an MRI Research and Development Center of Excellence located on UC’s medical campus.