Schistosoma infection inhibits cellular immune responses to core HCV peptides
- 1 May 2005
- journal article
- Published by Wiley in Parasite Immunology
- Vol. 27 (5), 189-196
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3024.2005.00762.x
Abstract
Patients coinfected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and the trematode, Schistosoma mansoni, have an increased incidence of viral persistence and accelerated fibrosis. To investigate immunological mechanisms responsible for this more aggressive natural history of HCV, the core HCV‐specific T‐cell responses were analysed in 44 donated blood units rejected because they had antibodies to HCV (anti‐HCV). Half also had anti‐ S. mansoni antibodies, evidence of past or active infection. HCV‐specific ELISPOT responses were examined using pools of 180 overlapping 9‐mer peptides with offsets of one covering the core of HCV genotype 4a. Comparison of T‐cell responses in blood units positive for both anti‐HCV and anti‐Schistosoma antibodies with blood units positive only for anti‐HCV antibodies showed a significant decrease in core‐specific T‐cell IFN‐γ (505 ± 46 vs. 803 ± 66 ISC/106 cells, P < 0·001), IL‐4 (2 ± 108 vs. 641 ± 131 ISC/106 cells, P < 0·001), and IL‐10 (159 ± 105 vs. 466 ± 407 ISC/106 cells, P < 0·002) responses. In contrast, there was no significant difference in cell‐mediated immune response (CMI) to PHA mitogen between these two groups. Therefore, we concluded T cells from persons with anti‐ Schistosoma have reduced IFN‐γ, IL‐4, and IL‐10 secreting HCV‐specific T‐cell responses. This may explain why Schistosoma coinfection increases persistence and severity of HCV infection .Keywords
This publication has 58 references indexed in Scilit:
- HCV‐specific CD27− CD28− memory T cells are depleted in hepatitis C virus and Schistosoma mansoni co‐infectionImmunology, 2003
- Characterization of HCV-specific Patr class II restricted CD4+ T cell responses in an acutely infected chimpanzeeHepatology, 2003
- HCV Persistence and Immune Evasion in the Absence of Memory T Cell HelpScience, 2003
- Memory CD8+ T Cells Are Required for Protection from Persistent Hepatitis C Virus InfectionThe Journal of Experimental Medicine, 2003
- Hepatitis C Virus: Immunosuppression by Complement Regulatory PathwayViral Immunology, 2001
- Different Levels of T-Cell Receptor Triggering Induce Distinct Functions in Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C Virus-Specific Human CD4+T-Cell ClonesJournal of Virology, 2001
- Soluble Egg Antigen-Stimulated T Helper Lymphocyte Apoptosis and Evidence for Cell Death Mediated by FasL+T and B Cells during MurineSchistosoma mansoniInfectionInfection and Immunity, 2001
- Hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection in a community in the nile delta: Population description and HCV prevalenceHepatology, 2000
- Cytokine Regulation of Human Immune Response to Schistosoma mansoni: Analysis of the Role of IL‐4, IL‐5 and IL‐10 on Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell ResponsesScandinavian Journal of Immunology, 1997
- Sequence analysis of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) core gene suggests the core protein as an appropriate target for HCV vaccine strategiesJournal of Viral Hepatitis, 1995