THE IMPAIRMENT OF NEUTROPHIL FUNCTIONS OF β-THALASSEMIA PATIENTS IN PYTHIUM INSIDIOSUM INFECTION

Abstract

Patients with β-thalassemia are more susceptible to Pythium insidiosum infection, leading to human pythiosis, potentially due to iron overload, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the functional responses of neutrophils from β-thalassemia patients upon exposure to P. insidiosum. Neutrophils were isolated from patients and healthy controls and co-cultured with P. insidiosum zoospores at varying multiplicities of infection. Neutrophil functions, including killing activity and neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation, were assessed to evaluate pathogen clearance capacity. The results showed that β-thalassemia patients had significantly reduced fungal clearance, indicated by higher fungal burdens at both MOIs 1 and 0.1 (p < 0.05). In addition, NET formation was significantly lower compared to healthy controls (p < 0.05). These findings highlight a defect in neutrophil-mediated innate immunity and provide new insights into the increased susceptibility to infection in β-thalassemia patients.

Keywords: Pythiosis, Pythium insidiosum, β-thalassemia, Neutrophil