Effects of Helicobacter pylori Infection on Immunoglobulins and Interleukins in Infected Patients: A Cross-sectional Study in Nnewi North, Nigeria

Abstract

The debilitating nature of infectious diseases has drastically reduced the health standard of individuals in the society. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Helicobacter pylori infection on the immunoglobulins and interleukins of infected patients at Nnewi North, Nigeria. Two hundred (200) blood samples were aseptically collected from different age groups in the sampled communities (Umudim, Uruagu, Otolo, and Nnewichi) at Nnewi North using well-capped sterile plain bottles. The levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (IgM), interleukin-6 and interleukin-10 were determined using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. The results revealed that 43.5% of the individuals screened were positive to IgG biomarker while 81.5% showed positive to IgM biomarker. Meanwhile, 12.5% of the screened individuals showed normal interleukin 6 while 5.5% showed normal interleukin 10.  Therefore, it is obvious that the level of IgG and IgM increased in the serum of individuals that tested positive to the infection while the level of interleukin 6 and interleukin 10 decreased among individuals infected. This finding has shown that H. pylori possesses immunomodulatory potential.