Efficiency of cysticidal therapy impacted by the host’s immune response in Neurocysticercosis patients

Abstract Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a neurological condition caused by the presence of cysts from T. solium in the brain, which manifests with a range of clinical symptoms. The severity of NCC and its prognosis following Anti Helminth Drug (AHD) treatment are closely linked to peripheral and local inflammation. The study aims to analyse the efficiency of cysticidal therapy impacted by the host’s immune response in NCC patients. A total of 104 patients were enrolled in the study and blood samples were collected from 30 patients. The follow-up samples within 3 to 6 months of treatment were collected. Patients were categorised as - Responder (R) and Non-Responder (NR). Cytokines were estimated using ELISA kits in PBMCs cells. The responder patients showed significantly lower IL-10 & IL-6 levels in the supernatants at T0 as compared to T1, while in non-responder patients, IL-10 and IL-6 levels were higher at T0 as compared to T1. The IFN-γ and TNF-α levels were found to be higher in the supernatants at T0 as compared to T1 in both the responder and non-responder patients. These observations imply that these cytokines might have an impact on the efficacy of AHD treatment in individuals with NCC