Expression of Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha and Interleukin 1β in Jejuna of Volunteers after Experimental Challenge with Cryptosporidium parvum Correlates with Exposure but Not with Symptoms

Jejunal biopsies from volunteers challenged with Cryptosporidium parvum were examined for tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-1β mRNA. Postchallenge biopsies from 15 of 28 (54%) volunteers expressed TNF-α; 14% expressed IL-1β. Cytokine expression did not correlate with enteric symptoms, suggesting that TNF-α and IL-1β are not key mediators of diarrhea in human cryptosporidiosis.