Abstract
BackgroundHelminths and malaria are among the most prevalent infectious diseases in the world. They both occur in tropical area where they often affect the same populations. There are studies suggesting an effect of helminths on malariometric indices. For example, malaria attacks as well as disease severity has been shown to be influenced by a concurrent chronic helminth infection. However, there are also studies that show no effect of concurrent helminth infections on malarial outcomes. To start addressing this issue, the effect of chronic Schistosoma haematobium infection on both the innate and adaptive immune response of Plasmodium falciparum-infected subjects was assessed in an area endemic for both these infections in Gabon.MethodSubjects infected with S. haematobium and or P. falciparum, as well as a control group with neither of these infections, were recruited. For innate immune response, heparinized blood was obtained and cultured for 24 hours with a panel of TLR ligands. For adaptive immune response, PBMC was isolated and stimulated with SEB for 72 hours. Cytokines and chemokines were measured in supernatants using a multiplex beads array immunoassay. Principal Component analysis was used to assess pattern of cytokine and chemokine responses representing the innate and adaptive components of the immune system.ResultsOverall it was observed that the presence of P. falciparum infection was marked by an increase in innate and adaptive immune responsiveness while S. haematobium infection was characterized by an increased chemokine profile, with at the same time, lower pro inflammatory markers. When the study subjects were split into single infected and co-infected groups no effect of S. haematobium on the immune response of P. falciparum infected subjects was observed, neither for the innate nor for the adaptive component of the immune response.ConclusionThis study provides original information on the cellular immune response of S. haematobium and/or P. falciparum in infected subjects. It rules out an effect of S. haematobium on the cytokine profile of subjects co-infected with P. falciparum.
Highlights
Helminths and malaria are among the most prevalent infectious diseases in the world
Overall it was observed that the presence of P. falciparum infection was marked by an increase in innate and adaptive immune responsiveness while S. haematobium infection was characterized by an increased chemokine profile, with at the same time, lower pro inflammatory markers
Detection of P. falciparum infection was made by real time-PCR performed on DNA extracted from EDTA blood pellet kept frozen in - 80°C [32]
Summary
Helminths and malaria are among the most prevalent infectious diseases in the world. They both occur in tropical area where they often affect the same populations. There are studies that show no effect of concurrent helminth infections on malarial outcomes To start addressing this issue, the effect of chronic Schistosoma haematobium infection on both the innate and adaptive immune response of Plasmodium falciparum-infected subjects was assessed in an area endemic for both these infections in Gabon. While important for parasite clearance a powerful Th1 and pro-inflammatory response could be detrimental for the host if uncontrolled, leading to tissue damage and severe disease [5,6] This is supported by the importance of the anti-inflammatory network characterized by an expansion of the regulatory T cells [7,8,9,10], as well as by the activation of negative regulators like the CTLA4 or PD-1, transmembrane receptors, during malaria infection [11,12]. As Th1 responses can be counteracted by Th2 cells, the presence of a strong Th2 response might influence anti-malarial immunity
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