Serum levels of Interleukin-10, Interleukin-6, and leptin in patients with Mycobacterium leprae–Helminth Co-Infections

Abstract Introduction Leprosy remains a public health problem in several countries, including Indonesia, due to its surrounding disability, stigma, and discrimination. In leprosy, compromised immune responses frequently affect the occurrence of helminth infections, which are known to contribute to a number of diseases by upregulating T-helper 2. Elevated levels of interleukin (IL)-10, IL-6, and leptin have been associated with helminth infection and leprosy, respectively. Purposes This study aimed to measure the serum levels of IL-10, IL-6, and leptin in leprosy patients with and without helminth co-infections. Patients and methods A cross-sectional design was used for this observational clinical study. A total of 32 leprosy patients who fulfilled our inclusion and exclusion criteria were recruited. The quantification of IL-10 and IL-6 levels was performed using serum samples with a quantitative sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Additionally, the quantification of leptin serum was also carried out. The helminth’s eggs were examined using the Kato-Katz technique. Results This study revealed that helminth co-infection was present in five out of 32 (15.6%) leprosy patients. The types of helminth found in leprosy patients with helminth infections were Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura , with a mild intensity of infection. For leprosy with helminth infection, the mean IL-10, IL-6, and leptin serum levels were 86.43 pg/ml ± 4.34 pg/ml, 447.42 pg/ml ± 122.15 pg/ml, and 19,272.85 pg/ml ± 4,065.23 pg/ml, respectively. Meanwhile, the mean IL-10, IL-6, and leptin serum levels for leprosy without helminth infection were 72.97 pg/ml ± 14.69 pg/ml, 161.77 pg/ml ± 63.98 pg/ml, and 14,649.07 pg/ml ± 2,002.66 pg/ml, respectively. Based on an independent t-test, the difference in serum levels of IL-10 and IL-6 in leprosy patients with and without helminth infections was p  = 0.001 and p  = 0.0001, respectively. However, based on the Mann-Whitney test, the serum level of leptin between leprosy patients with and without helminth infections was p  = 0.062. Conclusion The proportion of helminth infection in leprosy patients is 15.6%. Leprosy patients with helminth infections have considerably greater serum levels of IL-10 and IL-6, suggesting that helminth infection influences leprosy patients’ immunological responses.