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Solano-Gálvez SG, Gutiérrez-Kobeh L, Wilkins-Rodríguez AA, Vázquez-López R. Artemisinin: An Anti-Leishmania Drug that Targets the Leishmania Parasite and Activates Apoptosis of Infected Cells. Arch Med Res 2024; 55:103041. [PMID: 38996535 DOI: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2024.103041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a relevant disease worldwide due to its presence in many countries and an estimated prevalence of 10 million people. The causative agent of this disease is the obligate intracellular parasite Leishmania which can infect different cell types. Part of its success depends on its ability to evade host defense mechanisms such as apoptosis. Apoptosis is a finely programmed process of cell death in which cells silently dismantle and actively participate in several processes such as immune response, differentiation, and cell growth. Leishmania has the ability to delay its initiation to persist in the cell. It has been well documented that different Leishmania species target different pathways that lead to apoptosis of cells such as macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic cells. In many cases, the observed anti-apoptotic effect has been associated with a significant reduction in caspase-3 activity. Leishmania has also been shown to target several pathways involved in apoptosis such as MAPK, PI3K/Akt, and the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-xL. Understanding the strategies used by Leishmania to subvert the defense mechanisms of host cells, particularly apoptosis, is very relevant for the development of therapies and vaccines. In recent years, the drug artemisinin has been shown to be effective against several parasitic diseases. Its role against Leishmania may be promising. In this review, we provide important aspects of the disease, the strategies used by the parasite to suppress apoptosis, and the role of artemisinin in Leishmania infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Georgina Solano-Gálvez
- Unidad de Investigación, División de Investigación, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Laila Gutiérrez-Kobeh
- Unidad de Investigación, División de Investigación, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Arturo A Wilkins-Rodríguez
- Unidad de Investigación, División de Investigación, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Rosalino Vázquez-López
- Departamento de Microbiología, Centro de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud Universidad Anáhuac México Norte, Huixquilucan, Estado de México, Mexico.
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Mehta Y, Kaur D, Kaur U, Shree R, Singh P, Modi M, Lal V, Sehgal R. Efficiency of Cysticidal Therapy Impacted by the Host's Immune Response in Neurocysticercosis Patients. Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-024-04377-0. [PMID: 39090352 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04377-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a neurological condition caused by the presence of cysts of Taenia 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 aimed to analyse the efficiency of cysticidal therapy impacted by the host's immune response in NCC patients. A total of 104 patients were screened in this 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 IL-6, IL-10, IFN-γ and TNF-α were estimated using ELISA kits in PBMC cells. T0 is the time point before the AHD treatment begins, and T1 is between 3 to 6 months after the treatment starts. The responder patients showed significantly lower IL-10 and 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 NCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yashvi Mehta
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 160012, India
| | - Davinder Kaur
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 160012, India
| | - Upninder Kaur
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 160012, India
| | - Ritu Shree
- Department of Neurology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 160012, India
| | - Paramjeet Singh
- Department of Radiodiagnosis, Neuroimaging & Interventional Neuroradiology Division, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 160012, India
| | - Manish Modi
- Department of Neurology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 160012, India
| | - Vivek Lal
- Department of Neurology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 160012, India
| | - Rakesh Sehgal
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 160012, India.
- Department of Microbiology, Aarupadai Veedu Medical College & Hospital, Puducherry, 607402, India.
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Adem E, Yizengaw E, Mulaw T, Nibret E, Müller I, Takele Y, Kropf P. Altered co-stimulatory and inhibitory receptors on monocyte subsets in patients with visceral leishmaniasis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0012417. [PMID: 39159266 PMCID: PMC11373857 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 09/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a neglected tropical disease caused by parasites from the Leishmania (L.) donovani complex. VL is characterised by uncontrolled parasite replication in spleen, liver and bone marrow, and by an impaired immune response and high systemic levels of inflammation. Monocytes have been poorly characterised in VL patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression levels of markers involved in the regulation of T cell responses on different subsets of monocytes from the blood of VL patients and healthy non-endemic controls (HNEC). Monocytes can broadly be divided into three subsets: classical, intermediate and non-classical monocytes. Our results show that the percentages of all three subsets stayed similar at the time of VL diagnosis (ToD) and at the end of anti-leishmanial treatment (EoT). We first looked at co-stimulatory receptors: the expression levels of CD40 were significantly increased on classical and intermediate, but not non-classical monocytes, at ToD as compared to EoT and HNEC. CD80 expression levels were also increased on intermediate monocytes at ToD as compared to EoT and HNEC, and on classical monocytes only as compared to HNEC. The levels of CD86 were similar at EoT and ToD and in HNEC on classical and intermediate monocytes, but significantly higher at EoT on non-classical monocytes. We also looked at an inhibitory molecule, PD-L1. Our results show that the expression levels of PD-L1 were significantly higher on all three monocyte subsets at ToD as compared to HNEC, and to EoT on classical and intermediate monocytes. These results show that monocytes from the blood of VL patients upregulate both co-stimulatory and inhibitory receptors and that their expression levels are restored at EoT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emebet Adem
- Leishmaniasis Research and Treatment Centre, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | - Endalew Yizengaw
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health Science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
- Institute of Biotechnology, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
- Amhara Public Health Institute, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | - Tadele Mulaw
- Leishmaniasis Research and Treatment Centre, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Endalkachew Nibret
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
- Institute of Biotechnology, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | - Ingrid Müller
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yegnasew Takele
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Pascale Kropf
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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Sacramento LA, Lombana C, Scott P. Malnutrition disrupts adaptive immunity during visceral leishmaniasis by enhancing IL-10 production. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.06.597776. [PMID: 38895324 PMCID: PMC11185680 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.06.597776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) is a risk factor for developing visceral leishmaniasis (VL). However, the impact on adaptive immunity during infection is unknown. To study the effect of malnutrition on chronic VL, we used a polynutrient-deficient diet (deficient protein, energy, zinc, and iron), which mimics moderate human malnutrition, followed by Leishmania infantum infection. The polynutrient-deficient diet leads to growth stunting and reduced mass of visceral organs. Malnourished-infected mice harbored more parasites in the spleen and liver, had a reduced number of T lymphocytes, reduced production of IFN-γ by T cells, and exhibited enhanced IL-10 production. To test whether IL-10 blockade would lessen disease in the malnourished mice, we treated infected mice with monoclonal antibody α-IL-10R. α-IL-10R treatment reduced the parasite number of malnourished mice, restored the number of T cells producing IFN-γ, and enhanced hepatic granuloma formation. Our results indicate that malnutrition increases VL susceptibility due to a defective IFN-γ-mediated immunity attributable to increased IL-10 production. Author Summary Malnutrition contributes to the development of VL. Despite the advances regarding this association, how malnutrition affects the adaptive immune mechanisms in VL is still unclear. We found that malnutrition disrupts the ability to control parasite replication in the spleen and liver in VL due to defective IFN-γ-mediated immunity, reduced hepatic granuloma formation, and enhanced IL-10 production. Blocking IL-10R signaling restored the protective mechanisms to control parasite replication in the malnourished mice without interfering with the undernutrition state. Thus, we demonstrate that malnutrition disrupts the adaptive immunity against VL due to an aberrant IL-10 production. Understanding the association between malnutrition and VL will provide insights into therapeutic approaches.
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Na J, Engwerda C. The role of CD4 + T cells in visceral leishmaniasis; new and emerging roles for NKG7 and TGFβ. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1414493. [PMID: 38881737 PMCID: PMC11176485 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1414493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis is a potentially devastating neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan parasites Leishmania donovani and L. infantum (chagasi). These parasites reside in tissue macrophages and survive by deploying a number of mechanisms aimed at subverting the host immune response. CD4+ T cells play an important role in controlling Leishmania parasites by providing help in the form of pro-inflammatory cytokines to activate microbiocidal pathways in infected macrophages. However, because these cytokines can also cause tissue damage if over-produced, regulatory immune responses develop, and the balance between pro-inflammatory and regulatory CD4+ T cells responses determines the outcomes of infection. Past studies have identified important roles for pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IFNγ and TNF, as well as regulatory co-inhibitory receptors and the potent anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. More recently, other immunoregulatory molecules have been identified that play important roles in CD4+ T cell responses during VL. In this review, we will discuss recent findings about two of these molecules; the NK cell granule protein Nkg7 and the anti-inflammatory cytokine TGFβ, and describe how they impact CD4+ T cell functions and immune responses during visceral leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinrui Na
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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Kausar G, Chauhan SB, Roy R, Kumar S, Engwerda C, Nylen S, Kumar R, Wilson ME, Sundar S. Apolipoprotein E Is Upregulated in Blood and Circulating Monocytes of Indian Patients With Visceral Leishmaniasis. Parasite Immunol 2024; 46:e13036. [PMID: 38720445 PMCID: PMC11141729 DOI: 10.1111/pim.13036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) has been associated with several diseases including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's and multiple sclerosis. ApoE also has documented immunomodulatory functions. We investigated gene expression in circulating monocytes and in bone marrows of patients with visceral leishmaniasis (VL) living in an endemic area in Bihar, India, and contrasted these with control healthy subjects or other diagnostic bone marrows from individuals in the same region. Samples from VL patients were obtained prior to initiating treatment. Our study revealed significant upregulated expression of the apoE transcript in patients with VL. Furthermore, the levels of ApoE protein were elevated in serum samples of subjects with VL compared with healthy endemic controls. These observations may provide clues regarding the complex interactions between lipid metabolism and immunoregulation of infectious and inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gulafsha Kausar
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, UP, India
| | - Shashi Bhushan Chauhan
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, UP, India
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington D.C. 20052, USA
| | - Ritirupa Roy
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, UP, India
| | - Shashi Kumar
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, UP, India
| | - Christian Engwerda
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland 4006, Australia
| | - Susanne Nylen
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Rajiv Kumar
- Centre of Experimental Medicine & Surgery, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, UP, India
| | - Mary E. Wilson
- Departments of Internal Medicine and Microbiology & Immunology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Veterans’ Affairs Medical Center, Iowa City, IA 52240, USA
| | - Shyam Sundar
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, UP, India
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Peyvandi S, Lan Q, Chabloz A, Prével F, La Torre YH, Ives A, Tacchini-Cottier F. The β-Carboline Harmine Has a Protective Immunomodulatory Role in Nonhealing Cutaneous Leishmaniasis. J Invest Dermatol 2024; 144:862-873.e4. [PMID: 37852357 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2023.09.280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Cutaneous leishmaniasis affects 1 million people worldwide annually. Although conventional treatments primarily target the parasite, there is growing interest in host immune modulation. In this study, we investigated the impact of synthetic β-carboline harmine (ACB1801), previously shown to be immunoregulatory in cancer, on the pathology caused by a drug-resistant Leishmania major strain causing persistent cutaneous lesions. Exposure to ACB1801 in vitro had a modest impact on parasite burden within host macrophages. Moreover, it significantly increased major histocompatibility complex II and costimulatory molecule expression on infected dendritic cells, suggesting an enhanced immune response. In vivo, ACB1801 monotherapy led to a substantial reduction in lesion development and parasite burden in infected C57BL/6 mice, comparable with efficacy of amphotericin B. Transcriptomics analysis further supported ACB1801 immunomodulatory effects, revealing an enrichment of TNF-α, IFN-γ, and major histocompatibility complex II antigen presentation signatures in the draining lymph nodes of treated mice. Flow cytometry analysis confirmed an increased frequency (1.5×) of protective CD4+IFN-γ+TNF-α+ T cells and a decreased frequency (2×) in suppressive IL-10+FoxP3- T cells at the site of infection and in draining lymph nodes. In addition, ACB1801 downregulated the aryl hydrocarbon receptor signaling, known to enhance immunosuppressive cytokines. Thus, these results suggest a potential use for ACB1801 alone or in combination therapy for cutaneous leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanam Peyvandi
- Department of Immunobiology, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Qiang Lan
- Cell and Tissue Dynamics Research Program, Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLIFE), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Florence Prével
- Department of Immunobiology, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Yazmin Hauyon La Torre
- Department of Immunobiology, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | | | - Fabienne Tacchini-Cottier
- Department of Immunobiology, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland.
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Swaminathan S, Mai LT, Meli AP, Carmona-Pérez L, Charpentier T, Lamarre A, King IL, Stäger S. LAG-3- and CXCR5-expressing CD4 T cells display progenitor-like properties during chronic visceral leishmaniasis. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113879. [PMID: 38416647 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Maintenance of CD4 T cells during chronic infections is vital for limiting pathogen burden and disease recrudescence. Although inhibitory receptor expression by CD4 T cells is commonly associated with immune suppression and exhaustion, such cell-intrinsic mechanisms that control activation are also associated with cell survival. Using a mouse model of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), we discovered a subset of lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG-3)-expressing CD4 T cells that co-express CXCR5. Although LAG3+CXCR5+ CD4 T cells are present in naive mice, they expand during VL. These cells express gene signatures associated with self-renewal capacity, suggesting progenitor-like properties. When transferred into Rag1-/- mice, these LAG3+CXCR5+ CD4 T cells differentiated into multiple effector types upon Leishmania donovani infection. The transcriptional repressor B cell lymphoma-6 was partially required for their maintenance. Altogether, we propose that the LAG3+CXCR5+ CD4 T cell subset could play a role in maintaining CD4 T cell responses during persistent infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharada Swaminathan
- INRS-Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie and Infectiopôle INRS, 531 Boulevard des Prairies, Laval, QC, Canada
| | - Linh Thuy Mai
- INRS-Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie and Infectiopôle INRS, 531 Boulevard des Prairies, Laval, QC, Canada
| | - Alexandre P Meli
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Meakins-Christie Laboratories, McGill Centre for Microbiome Research, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Liseth Carmona-Pérez
- INRS-Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie and Infectiopôle INRS, 531 Boulevard des Prairies, Laval, QC, Canada
| | - Tania Charpentier
- INRS-Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie and Infectiopôle INRS, 531 Boulevard des Prairies, Laval, QC, Canada
| | - Alain Lamarre
- INRS-Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie and Infectiopôle INRS, 531 Boulevard des Prairies, Laval, QC, Canada
| | - Irah L King
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Meakins-Christie Laboratories, McGill Centre for Microbiome Research, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Simona Stäger
- INRS-Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie and Infectiopôle INRS, 531 Boulevard des Prairies, Laval, QC, Canada.
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Nateghi-Rostami M, Sohrabi Y. Memory T cells: promising biomarkers for evaluating protection and vaccine efficacy against leishmaniasis. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1304696. [PMID: 38469319 PMCID: PMC10925770 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1304696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding the immune response to Leishmania infection and identifying biomarkers that correlate with protection are crucial for developing effective vaccines. One intriguing aspect of Leishmania infection is the persistence of parasites, even after apparent lesion healing. Various host cells, including dendritic cells, fibroblasts, and Langerhans cells, may serve as safe sites for latent infection. Memory T cells, especially tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM), play a crucial role in concomitant immunity against cutaneous Leishmania infections. These TRM cells are long-lasting and can protect against reinfection in the absence of persistent parasites. CD4+ TRM cells, in particular, have been implicated in protection against Leishmania infections. These cells are characterized by their ability to reside in the skin and rapidly respond to secondary infections by producing cytokines such as IFN-γ, which activates macrophages to kill parasites. The induction of CD4+ TRM cells has shown promise in experimental immunization, leading to protection against Leishmania challenge infections. Identifying biomarkers of protection is a critical step in vaccine development and CD4+ TRM cells hold potential as biomarkers, as their presence and functions may correlate with protection. While recent studies have shown that Leishmania-specific memory CD4+ T-cell subsets are present in individuals with a history of cutaneous leishmaniasis, further studies are needed to characterize CD4+ TRM cell populations. Overall, this review highlights the importance of memory T cells, particularly skin-resident CD4+ TRM cells, as promising targets for developing effective vaccines against leishmaniasis and as biomarkers of immune protection to assess the efficacy of candidate vaccines against human leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yahya Sohrabi
- Department of Cardiology I-Coronary and Peripheral Vascular Disease, Heart Failure, University Hospital Münster, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Münster, Germany
- Department of Medical Genetics, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
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Carvalho AM, Costa RS, Lago A, Bacellar O, Beiting DP, Scott P, Carvalho LP, Carvalho EM. In Situ versus Systemic Immune Response in the Pathogenesis of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis. Pathogens 2024; 13:199. [PMID: 38535542 PMCID: PMC10975199 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13030199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024] Open
Abstract
The role of the immune response in the pathogenesis of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) due to Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis is predominantly carried out via blood cells. Here, we evaluate whether cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) reflects what has been documented at the lesion site. The participants included 22 CL patients diagnosed with a positive PCR. PBMCs were stimulated for 72 h with a soluble leishmania antigen (SLA). Biopsies obtained from the edge of the ulcers were incubated for the same period. Cytokines in supernatants were assessed via ELISA. TNF, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17, and granzyme B (GzmB) were higher in the supernatants of biopsies than in PBMCs, but IFN-γ was higher in the supernatants of PBMCs than in biopsies. There was a positive correlation between IFN-γ and TNF in PBMCs, and an inverse correlation between TNF and IL-10 in the cells from the lesion site. A strong correlation between IL-1β, IL-17, and GzmB was observed in the biopsies, and a positive correlation was detected between these cytokines and the lesion size. Our results indicate that the immune response in L. braziliensis lesions is different from that observed in peripheral blood, and our data suggest that in addition to IL-1β and GzmB, IL-17 participates in the pathology of CL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Augusto M. Carvalho
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute (IGM), Fiocruz, Salvador 40296-710, BA, Brazil; (A.M.C.); (R.S.C.); (L.P.C.)
- Immunology Service, Professor Edgard Santos University Hospital Complex, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40110-160, BA, Brazil; (A.L.); (O.B.)
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Doenças Tropicais (INCT-DT), Ministério da Ciência e Tecnologia e Inovação (MCTI), CNPq, Salvador 40110-160, BA, Brazil
| | - Rúbia S. Costa
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute (IGM), Fiocruz, Salvador 40296-710, BA, Brazil; (A.M.C.); (R.S.C.); (L.P.C.)
- Immunology Service, Professor Edgard Santos University Hospital Complex, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40110-160, BA, Brazil; (A.L.); (O.B.)
| | - Alexsandro Lago
- Immunology Service, Professor Edgard Santos University Hospital Complex, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40110-160, BA, Brazil; (A.L.); (O.B.)
| | - Olívia Bacellar
- Immunology Service, Professor Edgard Santos University Hospital Complex, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40110-160, BA, Brazil; (A.L.); (O.B.)
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Doenças Tropicais (INCT-DT), Ministério da Ciência e Tecnologia e Inovação (MCTI), CNPq, Salvador 40110-160, BA, Brazil
| | - Daniel P. Beiting
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4539, USA; (D.P.B.); (P.S.)
| | - Phillip Scott
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4539, USA; (D.P.B.); (P.S.)
| | - Lucas P. Carvalho
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute (IGM), Fiocruz, Salvador 40296-710, BA, Brazil; (A.M.C.); (R.S.C.); (L.P.C.)
- Immunology Service, Professor Edgard Santos University Hospital Complex, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40110-160, BA, Brazil; (A.L.); (O.B.)
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Doenças Tropicais (INCT-DT), Ministério da Ciência e Tecnologia e Inovação (MCTI), CNPq, Salvador 40110-160, BA, Brazil
| | - Edgar M. Carvalho
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute (IGM), Fiocruz, Salvador 40296-710, BA, Brazil; (A.M.C.); (R.S.C.); (L.P.C.)
- Immunology Service, Professor Edgard Santos University Hospital Complex, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40110-160, BA, Brazil; (A.L.); (O.B.)
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Doenças Tropicais (INCT-DT), Ministério da Ciência e Tecnologia e Inovação (MCTI), CNPq, Salvador 40110-160, BA, Brazil
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de Franca MNF, Rodrigues LS, Barreto AS, da Cruz GS, Aragão-Santos JC, da Silva AM, de Jesus AR, Palatnik-de-Sousa CB, de Almeida RP, Corrêa CB. CD4 + Th1 and Th17 responses and multifunctional CD8 T lymphocytes associated with cure or disease worsening in human visceral leishmaniasis. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1277557. [PMID: 38410517 PMCID: PMC10895669 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1277557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction In VL, a proinflammatory phenotype is typically associated with enhanced phagocytosis and a Th1 mediated immune response resulting in infection control. In contrast, an anti-inflammatory phenotype, associated with a predominant regulatory response, typically enables intracellular multiplication of Leishmania parasites and disease progression. Methods To investigate the impact of chemotherapy on Th2 and Th17 immune responses in patients with visceral leishmaniasis (VL), we assessed all combinations of intracellular expression of IFN-γ, IL-10, IL-4 and IL-17 in the CD4+ and CD8+ T cell populations of peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) samples from patients, after antigenic stimulation with Leishmania lysate, throughout treatment and follow-up. As increases in spleen and liver sizes and decreases in hematocrit, hemogloblin, erythrocytes, monocytes, leukocytes and platelets levels are strongly related to the disease, we studied the correlations between the frequencies of T cells producing the afore mentioned cytokines, individually and in combination, and these variables, as markers of disease or cure. Results We found that the frequency of IFN-γ-producingCD4+ T cells increased until the end of chemotherapy with Glucantime® or AmBisome ®, while IL-10, IL-4 and IL-17-producing CD4+ T cells peaked on day 7 following the start of treatment. Although the frequency of CD4+IL-17+ cells decreased during treatment an increase was observed after clinical cure. The frequency of CD4+ T cells producing only IFN-γ or IL-17 correlated with blood monocytes levels. Frequencies of double-producers of IFN-γ and IL-10 or IL-4 correlated positively with eosinophils and platelets levels. Together, this suggest that IFN-γ drives the immune response towards Th1 at cure. In contrast, and associated with disease or Th2 response, the frequency of CD4+ IL-10+ cells correlated positively with spleen sizes and negatively with circulating monocyte levels, while the frequency of CD4+ producing both IL-4 and IL-10 correlated negatively with platelets levels. The frequency of CD8+ single-producers of IFN-γ increased from day 21 to 90 while that of single-producers of IL-10 peaked on day 7, of IL-4 on day 30 and of IL-17, on day 180. IFN-γ expression in CD8+ single- and double-producers of cytokines was indicative of an immune response associated with cure. In contrast, frequencies of CD8+ double-producers of IL-4 and IL-10, IL-4 and IL-17 and IL-10 and IL-17 and producers of three and four cytokines, were associated with disease and were low after the cure. Frequencies of CD8+ T cells producing IFN-γ alone or with IL-17 were positively correlated with platelets levels. In contrast, as markers of disease: 1) frequencies of single producers of IL-10 correlated negatively with leukocytes levels, 2) frequencies of double producers of IL-4 and IL-10 correlated negatively with platelet, leukocyte, lymphocyte and circulating monocyte levels, 3) frequencies of triple-producers of IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-10 correlated negatively with platelet, leukocyte and neutrophil levels and 4) frequencies of producers of IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10 and IL-17 simultaneously correlated positively with spleen size, and negatively with leukocyte and neutrophil levels. Discussion Our results confirmed that the clinical improvement of VL patients correlates with the decrease of an IL-4 and IL-10 CD4+Th2 response, the recovery of CD4+ Th1 and Th17 responses and the frequency of CD8+ single-producers of IFN-γ and double producers of IFN-γ and IL-17.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Nobre Farias de Franca
- Laboratory of Biology and Immunology of Cancer and Leishmania, Department of Morphology, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil
| | - Lorranny Santana Rodrigues
- Laboratory of Biology and Immunology of Cancer and Leishmania, Department of Morphology, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil
| | - Aline Silva Barreto
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil
- Division of Immunology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, University Hospital/Empresa Brasileira de Serviços Hospitalares (EBSERBH), Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil
| | - Geydson Silveira da Cruz
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil
- Division of Immunology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, University Hospital/Empresa Brasileira de Serviços Hospitalares (EBSERBH), Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil
| | - José Carlos Aragão-Santos
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil
- Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil
| | - Angela Maria da Silva
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil
- Department of Medicine, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil
| | - Amélia Ribeiro de Jesus
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil
- Division of Immunology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, University Hospital/Empresa Brasileira de Serviços Hospitalares (EBSERBH), Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil
- Department of Medicine, Federal University of Sergipe, Immunology Investigative Institute (III), INCT, CNPq, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil
| | - Clarisa B. Palatnik-de-Sousa
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil
- Institute of Microbiology Paulo de Góes, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Immunology Investigative Institute (III), Insititutos nacionais de Ciência e Tecnologia (INCT), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Vegetal Biotechnology and Bioprocesses, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Roque Pacheco de Almeida
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil
- Division of Immunology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, University Hospital/Empresa Brasileira de Serviços Hospitalares (EBSERBH), Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil
- Department of Medicine, Federal University of Sergipe, Immunology Investigative Institute (III), INCT, CNPq, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil
| | - Cristiane Bani Corrêa
- Laboratory of Biology and Immunology of Cancer and Leishmania, Department of Morphology, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil
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Devender M, Sebastian P, Maurya VK, Kumar K, Anand A, Namdeo M, Maurya R. Immunogenicity and protective efficacy of tuzin protein as a vaccine candidate in Leishmania donovani-infected BALB/c mice. Front Immunol 2024; 14:1294397. [PMID: 38274802 PMCID: PMC10808571 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1294397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is referred to as the most severe and fatal type of leishmaniasis basically caused by Leishmania donovani and L. infantum. The most effective method for preventing the spread of the disease is vaccination. Till today, there is no promising licensed vaccination for human VL. Hence, investigation for vaccines is necessary to enrich the therapeutic repertoire against leishmaniasis. Tuzin is a rare trans-membrane protein that has been reported in Trypanosoma cruzi with unknown function. However, tuzin is not characterized in Leishmania parasites. In this study, we for the first time demonstrated that tuzin protein was expressed in both stages (promastigote and amastigote) of L. donovani parasites. In-silico studies revealed that tuzin has potent antigenic properties. Therefore, we analyzed the immunogenicity of tuzin protein and immune response in BALB/c mice challenged with the L. donovani parasite. We observed that tuzin-vaccinated mice have significantly reduced parasite burden in the spleen and liver compared with the control. The number of granulomas in the liver was also significantly decreased compared with the control groups. We further measured the IgG2a antibody level, a marker of Th1 immune response in VL, which was significantly higher in the serum of immunized mice when compared with the control. Splenocytes stimulated with soluble Leishmania antigen (SLA) displayed a significant increase in NO and ROS levels compared with the control groups. Tuzin-immunized and parasite-challenged mice exhibit a notable rise in the IFN-γ/IL-10 ratio by significantly suppressing IL-10 expression level, an immunosuppressive cytokine that inhibits leishmanicidal immune function and encourages disease progression. In conclusion, tuzin immunizations substantially increase the protective immune response in L. donovani-challenged mice groups compared with control.
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Singh A, Mahapatra B, Banerjee A, Singh S, Singh S, Dubey VK, Das P, Singh RK. Leishmania antigens activated CD4 + T cells expressing CD200R receptors are the prime IL-10 producing phenotype and an important determinant of visceral leishmaniasis pathogenesis. Cytokine 2024; 173:156435. [PMID: 37950929 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2023.156435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/13/2023]
Abstract
The excessive production of IL-10, an anti-inflammatory cytokine, by Leishmania antigen-activated T cells is supposed to be a key player in the onset and progression of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). The IL-10-producing sources in VL remain unidentified and uncharacterized. In this study, we reveal that antigen-activated CD4+ T cells, i.e., CD44+CD4+ T cells expressing CD200R receptors, are the prime IL-10-producing phenotypes in Leishmania donovani infection-induced pathogenesis. These phenotypes are separate from CD25+Foxp3+CD4+ T regulatory cells, which are classical IL-10-producing phenotypes. In order to ascertain the role of CD200R and CD25 receptors in IL-10 overexpression-associated VL pathogenesis, we abrogated CD200R and CD25 receptor-mediated signaling in the infected mice. The splenic load of parasites and the size of the liver and spleen were significantly reduced in CD200-blocked mice as compared to CD25-blocked mice. Further, the CD200 blocking polarized CD4+ T cells to pro-inflammatory cytokines-producing phenotypes, as we observed a higher frequency of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-12 positive cells as compared to controls including the CD25 blocking. Our findings suggest that in L. donovani infection-induced pathogenesis the expression of CD200R on antigen-activated T cells helps them to acquire IL-10-producing abilities as part of its one of the survival strategies. However, more studies would be warranted to better understand CD200R receptors role in VL pathogenesis and to develop the next generation of therapeutic and prophylactic control measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Singh
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221 005, India
| | - Baishakhi Mahapatra
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221 005, India
| | - Arpita Banerjee
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221 005, India
| | - Samer Singh
- Centre for Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221 005, India
| | - Sangram Singh
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Dr. RMLA University, Ayodhya 224001, India
| | - Vikash K Dubey
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221 005, India
| | - Pradeep Das
- ICMR-National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata, West Bengal 700010, India
| | - Rakesh K Singh
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221 005, India.
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14
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Ivănescu L, Andronic BL, Grigore-Hristodorescu S, Martinescu GV, Mîndru R, Miron L. The immune response in canine and human leishmaniasis and how this influences the diagnosis- a review and assessment of recent research. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1326521. [PMID: 38149009 PMCID: PMC10749942 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1326521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a widespread but still underdiagnosed parasitic disease that affects both humans and animals. There are at least 20 pathogenic species of Leishmania, most of them being zoonotic. The diagnosis of leishmaniasis remains a major challenge, with an important role being played by the species of parasites involved, the genetic background, the immunocompetence of the host. This paper brings to the fore the sensitivity of the balance in canine and human leishmaniasis and addresses the importance of the host's immune response in establishing a correct diagnosis, especially in certain cases of asymptomatic leishmaniasis, or in the situation the host is immunosuppressed or acquired leishmaniasis through vertical transmission. The methods considered as a reference in the diagnosis of leishmaniasis no longer present certainty, the diagnosis being influenced mostly by the immune response of the host, which differs according to the presence of other associated diseases or even according to the breed in dogs. Consequently, the diagnosis and surveillance of leishmaniasis cases remains an open topic, requiring new diagnostic methods adapted to the immunological state of the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larisa Ivănescu
- Clinics Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Iasi University of Life Sciences, Iaşi, Romania
| | - Bianca Lavinia Andronic
- Clinics Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Iasi University of Life Sciences, Iaşi, Romania
| | | | | | - Raluca Mîndru
- Clinics Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Iasi University of Life Sciences, Iaşi, Romania
| | - Liviu Miron
- Clinics Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Iasi University of Life Sciences, Iaşi, Romania
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15
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Naouar I, Kammoun Rebai W, Ben Salah A, Bouguerra H, Toumi A, Hamida NB, Louzir H, Meddeb-Garnaoui A. A Prospective cohort study of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in tunisia: Clinical and Immunological features and immune correlates of protection. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011784. [PMID: 38064516 PMCID: PMC10732404 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to define immunological markers of exposure to L. major parasites and identify correlates of protection against infection. METHODS We analyzed a cohort of 790 individuals at risk of developing ZCL living in endemic areas with varying L. major infection prevalence. One area had a high infection prevalence indicated by high proportions of leishmanin skin test (LST) positive subjects, while the other areas were recent foci with lower infection prevalence. Blood samples were collected before the transmission season to measure Interferon gamma (IFN-γ), Interleukin 10 (IL-10), and Granzyme B (GrB) levels in response to parasite stimulation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. A one-year follow-up period involved active detection of new ZCL cases to estimate disease incidence after a transmission season and identify immune correlates of protection. RESULTS The study population showed heterogeneity in parasite contact, evident from specific scars and/or positive LST results, significantly higher in the old focus compared to recent foci. IFN-γ and GrB were markers of parasite exposure and reliable indicators of immunity to L. major. Positive correlations were observed between IFN-γ/IL-10 and GrB/IL-10 ratios and LST results. Unexpectedly, only 29 new ZCL cases (4%) appeared after a transmission season, with 27 cases reported in recent foci and 2 in the oldest focus. Our findings indicate that individuals in L. major endemic areas are likely to develop ZCL regardless of their LST status. We showed that high pre-transmission season levels of IFN-γ and GrB produced by PBMC, along with a high IFN-γ/IL-10 ratio, were associated with protection. CONCLUSION This study on a large cohort at risk of ZCL confirmed IFN-γ and GrB as protective factors against the disease. A high IFN-γ/IL-10 ratio, but not GrB/IL-10 ratio was associated with resistance. These results are valuable for developing and evaluating of a vaccine against human leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ikbel Naouar
- Laboratory of Transmission Control and Immunobiology of Infection, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia
- Faculty of Sciences, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Wafa Kammoun Rebai
- Faculty of Sciences, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
- Laboratory of Medical Parasitology, Biotechnology and Biomolecular, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Afif Ben Salah
- Laboratory of Transmission Control and Immunobiology of Infection, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain
| | - Hind Bouguerra
- National Observatory of New and Emerging Diseases, Tunis, Tunisia
- Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Amine Toumi
- Health Information and Intelligence Section, Ministry of Public Health, Doha, Qatar
| | - Nabil Belhadj Hamida
- Laboratory of Transmission Control and Immunobiology of Infection, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Hechmi Louzir
- Laboratory of Transmission Control and Immunobiology of Infection, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia
- National Observatory of New and Emerging Diseases, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Amel Meddeb-Garnaoui
- Laboratory of Medical Parasitology, Biotechnology and Biomolecular, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia
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Gómez CA, Martínez MSA, Aguilera AL, Cosano GM, Ramos MMT. Inmunoglobulin-mediated glomerulonephritis and mixed cryoglobulinemia as a form of presentation of visceral leishmaniasis in a patient with HIV. Nefrologia 2023; 43 Suppl 2:106-108. [PMID: 38245443 DOI: 10.1016/j.nefroe.2024.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
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Kupani M, Pandey RK, Vashisht S, Singh S, Prajapati VK, Mehrotra S. Prediction of an immunogenic peptide ensemble and multi-subunit vaccine for Visceral leishmaniasis using bioinformatics approaches. Heliyon 2023; 9:e22121. [PMID: 38196838 PMCID: PMC10775901 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is a neglected tropical disease of public health importance in the Indian subcontinent. Despite consistent elimination initiatives, the disease has not yet been eliminated and there is an increased risk of resurgence from active VL reservoirs including asymptomatic, post kala azar dermatitis leishmaniasis (PKDL) and HIV-VL co-infected individuals. To achieve complete elimination and sustain it in the long term, a prophylactic vaccine, which can elicit long lasting immunity, is desirable. In this study, we employed immunoinformatic tools to design a multi-subunit epitope vaccine for the Indian population by targeting antigenic secretory proteins screened from the Leishmania donovani proteome. Out of 8014 proteins, 277 secretory proteins were screened for their cellular location and proteomic evidence. Through NCBI BlastP, unique fragments of the proteins were cropped, and their antigenicity was evaluated. B-cell, HTL and CTL epitopes as well as IFN-ɣ, IL-17, and IL-10 inducers were predicted, manually mapped to the fragments and common regions were tabulated forming a peptide ensemble. The ensemble was evaluated for Class I MHC immunogenicity and toxicity. Further, immunogenic peptides were randomly selected and used to design vaccine constructs. Eight vaccine constructs were generated by linking random peptides with GS linkers. Synthetic TLR-4 agonist, RS09 was used as an adjuvant and linked with the constructs using EAAK linkers. The predicted population coverage of the constructs was ∼99.8 % in the Indian as well as South Asian populations. The most antigenic, nontoxic, non-allergic construct was chosen for the prediction of secondary and tertiary structures. The 3D structures were refined and analyzed using Ramachandran plot and Z-scores. The construct was docked with TLR-4 receptor. Molecular dynamic simulation was performed to check for the stability of the docked complex. Comparative in silico immune simulation studies showed that the predicted construct elicited humoral and cell-mediated immunity in human host comparable to that elicited by Leish-F3, which is a promising vaccine candidate for human VL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manu Kupani
- Department of Human Genetics, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, 143005, Punjab, India
| | - Rajeev Kumar Pandey
- Research & Development, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Bangalore, 560066, Karnataka, India
| | - Sharad Vashisht
- Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad-Gurugram Expressway, Faridabad, 121001, Harayana, India
| | - Satyendra Singh
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi, 110021, India
| | - Vijay Kumar Prajapati
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi, 110021, India
| | - Sanjana Mehrotra
- Department of Human Genetics, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, 143005, Punjab, India
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Singh AK, de Gooyer T, Singh OP, Pandey S, Neyaz A, Cloots K, Kansal S, Malaviya P, Rai M, Nylén S, Chakravarty J, Hasker E, Sundar S. Wuchereria bancrofti infection is associated with progression to clinical visceral leishmaniasis in VL- endemic areas in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, India. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011729. [PMID: 37903175 PMCID: PMC10635566 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Co-endemicity of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) necessitates that these diseases should be considered concomitantly to understand the relationship between pathology and to support disease management and control programs. The aims of the study were to assess the prevalence of filarial infection in asymptomatic Leishmania donovani infected individuals and the correlation of Wuchereria bancrofti infection with progression to clinical visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Bihar, India. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Within the Muzaffarpur-TMRC Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) area, a cohort of Leishmania seropositive (n = 476) or seronegative individuals (n = 1130) were sampled annually for three years for filarial infection and followed for progression to clinical VL. To corroborate the results from the cohort study, we also used a retrospective case-control study of 36 VL cases and 71 controls selected from a subset of the HDSS population to investigate the relationship between progression to clinical VL and the prevalence of filarial infection at baseline. Our findings suggest a higher probability of progression to clinical VL in individuals with a history of filarial infection: in both the cohort and case-control studies, progression to clinical VL was higher among filaria infected individuals (RR = 2.57, p = 0.056, and OR = 2.52, p = 0.046 respectively). CONCLUSION This study describes that progression to clinical VL disease is associated with serological evidence of prior infection with W. bancrofti. The integration of disease programs for Leishmania and lymphatic filariasis extend beyond the relationship of sequential or co-infection with disease burden. To ensure elimination targets can be reached and sustained, we suggest areas of co-endemicity would benefit from overlapping vector control activities, health system networks and surveillance infrastructure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Kumar Singh
- Infectious Disease Research Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Tanyth de Gooyer
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Om Prakash Singh
- Infectious Disease Research Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Sundaram Pandey
- Infectious Disease Research Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Aziza Neyaz
- Infectious Disease Research Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Kristien Cloots
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sangeeta Kansal
- Department of Community Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Paritosh Malaviya
- Infectious Disease Research Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Madhukar Rai
- Infectious Disease Research Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Susanne Nylén
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Jaya Chakravarty
- Infectious Disease Research Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Epco Hasker
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Shyam Sundar
- Infectious Disease Research Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
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Vale DL, Freitas CS, Martins VT, Moreira GJL, Machado AS, Ramos FF, Pereira IAG, Bandeira RS, de Jesus MM, Tavares GSV, Ludolf F, Chávez-Fumagalli MA, Galdino AS, Fujiwara RT, Bueno LL, Roatt BM, Christodoulides M, Coelho EAF, Lage DP. Efficacy of an Immunotherapy Combining Immunogenic Chimeric Protein Plus Adjuvant and Amphotericin B against Murine Visceral Leishmaniasis. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:851. [PMID: 37372136 PMCID: PMC10295016 DOI: 10.3390/biology12060851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in the Americas is a chronic systemic disease caused by infection with Leishmania infantum parasites. The toxicity of antileishmanial drugs, long treatment course and limited efficacy are significant concerns that hamper adequate treatment against the disease. Studies have shown the promise of an immunotherapeutics approach, combining antileishmanial drugs to reduce the parasitism and vaccine immunogens to activate the host immune system. In the current study, we developed an immunotherapy using a recombinant T cell epitope-based chimeric protein, ChimT, previously shown to be protective against Leishmania infantum, with the adjuvant monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA) and amphotericin B (AmpB) as the antileishmanial drug. BALB/c mice were infected with L. infantum stationary promastigotes and later they received saline or were treated with AmpB, MPLA, ChimT/Amp, ChimT/MPLA or ChimT/MPLA/AmpB. The combination of ChimT/MPLA/AmpB significantly reduced the parasite load in mouse organs (p < 0.05) and induced a Th1-type immune response, which was characterized by higher ratios of anti-ChimT and anti-parasite IgG2a:IgG1 antibodies, increased IFN-γ mRNA and IFN-γ and IL-12 cytokines and accompanied by lower levels of IL-4 and IL-10 cytokines, when compared to other treatments and controls (all p < 0.05). Organ toxicity was also lower with the ChimT/MPLA/AmpB immunotherapy, suggesting that the inclusion of the vaccine and adjuvant ameliorated the toxicity of AmpB to some degree. In addition, the ChimT vaccine alone stimulated in vitro murine macrophages to significantly kill three different internalized species of Leishmania parasites and to produce Th1-type cytokines into the culture supernatants. To conclude, our data suggest that the combination of ChimT/MPLA/AmpB could be considered for further studies as an immunotherapy for L. infantum infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danniele L. Vale
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 30130-100, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Camila S. Freitas
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 30130-100, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Vívian T. Martins
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 30130-100, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Gabriel J. L. Moreira
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas/NUPEB, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Insituto de Ciências Exatas e Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto 35400-000, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Amanda S. Machado
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 30130-100, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Fernanda F. Ramos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 30130-100, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Isabela A. G. Pereira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 30130-100, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Raquel S. Bandeira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 30130-100, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Marcelo M. de Jesus
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 30130-100, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Grasiele S. V. Tavares
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 30130-100, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Ludolf
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 30130-100, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Miguel A. Chávez-Fumagalli
- Computational Biology and Chemistry Research Group, Vicerrectorado de Investigación, Universidad Católica de Santa María, Urb. San José S/N, Umacollo, Arequipa 04000, Peru
| | - Alexsandro S. Galdino
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia de Microrganismos, Universidade Federal de São João Del-Rei, Divinópolis 35501-296, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ricardo T. Fujiwara
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Lílian L. Bueno
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Bruno M. Roatt
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas/NUPEB, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Insituto de Ciências Exatas e Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto 35400-000, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Myron Christodoulides
- Neisseria Research Group, Molecular Microbiology, School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Southampton Faculty of Medicine, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Eduardo A. F. Coelho
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 30130-100, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Departamento de Patologia Clínica, Colégio Técnico (COLTEC), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Daniela P. Lage
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 30130-100, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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20
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Mishra M, Yadav M, Kumar S, Kumar R, Sen P. TIM-3 increases the abundance of type-2 dendritic cells during Leishmania donovani infection by enhancing IL-10 production via STAT3. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:331. [PMID: 37202419 PMCID: PMC10195822 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-05848-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The outcome of the disease visceral leishmaniasis (VL), caused by Leishmania donovani (LD), largely relies on the relative dominance of host-protective type-1 T helper (Th1) cell response versus disease-promoting type-2 T helper (Th2) cell response. The Th1 and Th2 responses, in turn, are believed to be elicited by type-1 conventional dendritic cells (cDC1) and type-2 conventional DCs (cDC2), respectively. However, it is still unknown which DC subtype (cDC1 or cDC2) predominates during chronic LD infection and the molecular mechanism governing such occurrence. Here we report that in chronically infected mice, the splenic cDC1-cDC2 balance shifted toward the cDC2 subtype and that the receptor T cell immunoglobulin and mucin protein-3 (TIM-3) expressed by DCs played a key role in mediating this effect. Transfer of TIM-3-silenced DCs in fact prevented the predominance of the cDC2 subtype in mice with chronic LD infection. We also found that LD actually upregulated TIM-3 expression on DCs by triggering a TIM-3-mediated signaling pathway STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 3)→interleukin (IL)-10→c-Src→transcription factors Ets1, Ets2, USF1, and USF2. Notably, TIM-3 promoted STAT3 activation via a non-receptor tyrosine kinase Btk. Adoptive transfer experiments further demonstrated a critical role for STAT3-driven TIM-3 upregulation on DCs in increasing cDC2 abundance in chronically infected mice, which ultimately aided disease pathogenesis by augmenting Th2 responses. These findings document a new immunoregulatory mechanism contributing to disease pathology during LD infection and define TIM-3 as a key mediator of this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manish Mishra
- Division of Cell Biology and Immunology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, India
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Manisha Yadav
- Division of Cell Biology and Immunology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, India
| | - Sandeep Kumar
- Division of Cell Biology and Immunology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
| | - Raj Kumar
- Division of Cell Biology and Immunology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, India
| | - Pradip Sen
- Division of Cell Biology and Immunology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, India.
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India.
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21
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de Araujo FF, Lakhal-Naouar I, Koles N, Raiciulescu S, Mody R, Aronson N. Potential Biomarkers for Asymptomatic Visceral Leishmaniasis among Iraq-Deployed U.S. Military Personnel. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12050705. [PMID: 37242376 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12050705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a chronic infection caused by Leishmania (L.) donovani or L. infantum parasites. Despite having the infection, most individuals never develop the clinical disease and are able to control the parasite and remain asymptomatic. However, some progress to symptomatic VL, leading to death if untreated. The host immune response has a major role in determining the progression and severity of the clinical manifestations in VL; several immune biomarkers of symptomatic VL have been described with interferon-gamma release as a surrogate biomarker of host cellular immunity. However, new biomarkers to identify asymptomatic VL (AVL) are needed for the identification of people at risk for VL activation. In our study, levels of chemokine/cytokine in the supernatants of peripheral mononuclear blood cells (PBMC) from 35 AVL+ Iraq-deployed participants, stimulated in vitro with soluble Leishmania antigen for 72 h, were assessed by a bead-based assay that allows the measurement of multiple analytes. PBMC of AVL-negative military beneficiaries were used as controls. Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1, Monokine Induced by Gamma Interferon and Interleukin-8, were detected at high levels in AVL+ stimulated cultures from Iraq deployers compared to uninfected controls. Measurement of chemokine/cytokine levels can identify cellular immune responses in AVL+ asymptomatic individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Fortes de Araujo
- Department of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD 20817, USA
| | - Ines Lakhal-Naouar
- Diagnostics and Countermeasures Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Nancy Koles
- Department of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD 20817, USA
| | - Sorana Raiciulescu
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Rupal Mody
- Department of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
- Department of Medicine, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, El Paso, TX 79916, USA
| | - Naomi Aronson
- Department of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
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22
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Fiuza JA, Gannavaram S, Gaze ST, de Ornellas LG, Alves ÉA, Ismail N, Nakhasi HL, Correa-Oliveira R. Deletion of MIF gene from live attenuated LdCen -/- parasites enhances protective CD4 + T cell immunity. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7362. [PMID: 37147351 PMCID: PMC10163264 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34333-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Vaccination with live attenuated Leishmania parasites such as centrin deleted Leishmania donovani (LdCen-/-) against visceral leishmaniasis has been reported extensively. The protection induced by LdCen-/- parasites was mediated by both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. While the host immune mediators of protection are known, parasite determinants that affect the CD4+ and CD8+ T cell populations remain unknown. Parasite encoded inflammatory cytokine MIF has been shown to modulate the T cell differentiation characteristics by altering the inflammation induced apoptosis during contraction phase in experimental infections with Leishmania or Plasmodium. Neutralization of parasite encoded MIF either by antibodies or gene deletion conferred protection in Plasmodium and Leishmania studies. We investigated if the immunogenicity and protection induced by LdCen-/- parasites is affected by deleting MIF genes from this vaccine strain. Our results showed that LdCen-/-MIF-/- immunized group presented higher percentage of CD4+ and CD8+ central memory T cells, increased CD8+ T cell proliferation after challenge compared to LdCen-/- immunization. LdCen-/-MIF-/- immunized group presented elevated production of IFN-γ+ and TNF-α+ CD4+ T cells concomitant with a reduced parasite load in spleen and liver compared to LdCen-/-group following challenge with L. infantum. Our results demonstrate the role of parasite induced factors involved in protection and long-term immunity of vaccines against VL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline Araújo Fiuza
- Cellular and Molecular Immunology Research Group, René Rachou Institute (FIOCRUZ), Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
| | - Sreenivas Gannavaram
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA.
| | - Soraya Torres Gaze
- Cellular and Molecular Immunology Research Group, René Rachou Institute (FIOCRUZ), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | - Érica Alessandra Alves
- Cellular and Molecular Immunology Research Group, René Rachou Institute (FIOCRUZ), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Nevien Ismail
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Hira Lal Nakhasi
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Rodrigo Correa-Oliveira
- Cellular and Molecular Immunology Research Group, René Rachou Institute (FIOCRUZ), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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23
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Araujo Flores GV, Sandoval Pacheco CM, Ferreira AF, Tomokane TY, Nunes JB, Colombo FA, Sosa-Ochoa WH, Zúniga C, Silveira FT, Corbett CEP, Laurenti MD. Leishmania (L.) infantum chagasi isolated from skin lesions of patients affected by non-ulcerated cutaneous leishmaniasis lead to visceral lesion in hamsters. Parasitol Int 2023; 93:102723. [PMID: 36566911 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2022.102723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
In Central America, Leishmania (L.) infantum chagasi infection causes visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and non-ulcerated cutaneous leishmaniasis (NUCL). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the course of an experimental infection in hamsters caused by L. (L.) infantum chagasi isolated from patients affected by NUCL compared with a strain isolated from a patient with VL. Stationary phase parasites in culture were inoculated through subcutaneous and intraperitoneal routes in hamsters. Following the post-infection times, a histopathological study, parasite load and cytokine determination in skin from the cutaneous inoculation site and viscera were performed. Animals subcutaneously infected with the different strains did not develop macroscopic lesions at the inoculation site, and the histopathological changes in the dermis were very slight. Regarding the histopathological study of the viscera, we observed the portal mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate, the presence of nodules in the hepatic parenchyma and the proliferation of macrophages in the spleen, which increased over the infection course. Overall, the parasite load in the liver and spleen and in the total IgG titres in the sera of infected hamster showed an increase with the time of infection, regardless of the route of inoculation. Regarding cellular immunity, we did not observe an increase or decrease in pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines compared to the healthy control, except for IL-10, which was evident in the infected animals. The data showed that strains isolated from NUCL cause visceral lesions in the hamsters regardless of the route of inoculation, and they were similar to parasites isolated from VL humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela V Araujo Flores
- Laboratório de Patologia de Moléstias Infecciosas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Carmen M Sandoval Pacheco
- Laboratório de Patologia de Moléstias Infecciosas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Aurea F Ferreira
- Laboratório de Investigação Médica, LIM50, Hospital das Clinicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, HCFMUSP, SP, Brazil
| | - Thaise Yumie Tomokane
- Laboratório de Patologia de Moléstias Infecciosas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | - Wilfredo H Sosa-Ochoa
- Laboratório de Patologia de Moléstias Infecciosas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiologia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras, Tegucigalpa, Honduras
| | - Concepción Zúniga
- Departamento de Vigilancia de la Salud, Hospital Escuela, Tegucigalpa, Honduras
| | - Fernando T Silveira
- Instituto Evandro Chagas, Belém, PA, Brazil; Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - Carlos E P Corbett
- Laboratório de Patologia de Moléstias Infecciosas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Márcia D Laurenti
- Laboratório de Patologia de Moléstias Infecciosas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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24
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Latrofa MS, Varotto-Boccazzi I, Louzada-Flores VN, Iatta R, Mendoza-Roldan JA, Roura X, Zatelli A, Epis S, Bandi C, Otranto D. Interaction between Wolbachia pipientis and Leishmania infantum in heartworm infected dogs. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:77. [PMID: 36850014 PMCID: PMC9972713 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05662-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Wolbachia is a Gram-negative endosymbiont associated with several species of arthropods and filarioid nematodes, including Dirofilaria immitis. This endosymbiont may elicit a Th1 response, which is a component of the immunity against Leishmania infantum. METHODS To investigate the interactions between Wolbachia of D. immitis and L. infantum in naturally infected dogs and cytokine circulation, dogs without clinical signs (n = 187) were selected. Dogs were tested for microfilariae (mfs) by Knott, for female antigens of D. immitis by SNAP, and for anti-L. infantum antibodies by IFAT and assigned to four groups. Dogs of group 1 (G1) and 2 (G2) were positive for D. immitis and positive or negative to L. infantum, respectively. Dogs of group 3 (G3) and 4 (G4) were negative to D. immitis and positive or negative to L. infantum, respectively. Wolbachia and L. infantum DNA was quantified by real-time PCR (qPCR) in dog blood samples. A subset of dogs (n = 65) was examined to assess pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine production using an ELISA test. RESULTS Of 93 dogs positive to D. immitis with circulating mfs, 85% were positive to Wolbachia, with the highest amount of DNA detected in G1 and the lowest in dogs with low mfs load in G1 and G2. Among dogs positive to L. infantum, 66% from G1 showed low antibody titer, while 48.9% from G3 had the highest antibody titer. Of 37 dogs positive to Wolbachia from G1, 26 (70.3%) had low antibody titers to L. infantum (1:160). Among cytokines, TNFα showed the highest mean concentration in G1 (246.5 pg/ml), IFNγ being the one most represented (64.3%). IL-10 (1809.5 pg/ml) and IL-6 (123.5 pg/ml) showed the highest mean concentration in dogs from G1. A lower percentage of dogs producing IL-4 was observed in all groups examined, with the highest mean concentration (2794 pg/ml) recorded in G2. CONCLUSION Results show the association of D. immitis and Wolbachia with the lower antibody titers of L. infantum in co-infected dogs, suggesting the hypothesis that the endosymbiont may affect the development of the patent leishmaniosis. However, due to the limitations associated with the heterogeneity of naturally infected dogs in field conditions, results should be validated by investigation on experimental models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Stefania Latrofa
- grid.7644.10000 0001 0120 3326Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | | | | | - Roberta Iatta
- grid.7644.10000 0001 0120 3326Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | | | - Xavier Roura
- grid.7080.f0000 0001 2296 0625Hospital Clínic Veterinari, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Andrea Zatelli
- grid.7644.10000 0001 0120 3326Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Sara Epis
- grid.4708.b0000 0004 1757 2822Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy ,grid.4708.b0000 0004 1757 2822Pediatric CRC ‘Fondazione Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi’, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudio Bandi
- grid.4708.b0000 0004 1757 2822Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy ,grid.4708.b0000 0004 1757 2822Pediatric CRC ‘Fondazione Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi’, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Domenico Otranto
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Bari, Italy. .,Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.
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25
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Gupta D, Singh PK, Yadav PK, Narender T, Patil UK, Jain SK, Chourasia MK. Emerging strategies and challenges of molecular therapeutics in antileishmanial drug development. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 115:109649. [PMID: 36603357 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.109649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Molecular therapy refers to targeted therapies based on molecules which have been intelligently directed towards specific biomolecular structures and include small molecule drugs, monoclonal antibodies, proteins and peptides, DNA or RNA-based strategies, targeted chemotherapy and nanomedicines. Molecular therapy is emerging as the most effective strategy to combat the present challenges of life-threatening visceral leishmaniasis, where the successful human vaccine is currently unavailable. Moreover, current chemotherapy-based strategies are associated with the issues of ineffective targeting, unavoidable toxicities, invasive therapies, prolonged treatment, high treatment costs and the development of drug-resistant strains. Thus, the rational approach to antileishmanial drug development primarily demands critical exploration and exploitation of biochemical differences between host and parasite biology, immunocharacteristics of parasite homing, and host-parasite interactions at the molecular/cellular level. Following this, the novel technology-based designing and development of host and/or parasite-targeted therapeutics having leishmanicidal and immunomodulatory activity is utmost essential to improve treatment efficacy. Thus, the present review is focused on immunological and molecular checkpoint targets in host-pathogen interaction, and molecular therapeutic prospects for Leishmania intervention, and the challenges ahead.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepak Gupta
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University), Sagar 470003, M.P., India; Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, U.P., India
| | - Pankaj K Singh
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, U.P., India; Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hyderabad 500037, Telangana, India
| | - Pavan K Yadav
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, U.P., India
| | - Tadigoppula Narender
- Division of Medicinal and Process Chemistry, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, U.P., India
| | - Umesh K Patil
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University), Sagar 470003, M.P., India
| | - Sanjay K Jain
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University), Sagar 470003, M.P., India
| | - Manish K Chourasia
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, U.P., India.
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26
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Moreira MDL, Borges-Fernandes LO, Pascoal-Xavier MA, Ribeiro ÁL, Pereira VHS, Pediongco T, Araújo MSDS, Teixeira-Carvalho A, de Carvalho AL, Mourão MVA, Campos FA, Borges M, Carneiro M, Chen Z, Saunders E, McConville M, Tsuji M, McCluskey J, Martins-Filho OA, Eckle SBG, Coelho-dos-Reis JGA, Peruhype-Magalhães V. The role of mucosal-associated invariant T cells in visceral leishmaniasis. Front Immunol 2022; 13:926446. [PMID: 36189274 PMCID: PMC9521739 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.926446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are restricted by MR1 and are known to protect against bacterial and viral infections. Our understanding of the role of MAIT cells in parasitic infections, such as visceral leishmaniasis (VL) caused by protozoan parasites of Leishmania donovani, is limited. This study showed that in response to L. infantum, human peripheral blood MAIT cells from children with leishmaniasis produced TNF and IFN-γ in an MR1-dependent manner. The overall frequency of MAIT cells was inversely correlated with alanine aminotransferase levels, a specific marker of liver damage strongly associated with severe hepatic involvement in VL. In addition, there was a positive correlation between total protein levels and the frequency of IL-17A+ CD8+ MAIT cells, whereby reduced total protein levels are a marker of liver and kidney damage. Furthermore, the frequencies of IFN-γ+ and IL-10+ MAIT cells were inversely correlated with hemoglobin levels, a marker of severe anemia. In asymptomatic individuals and VL patients after treatment, MAIT cells also produced IL-17A, a cytokine signature associated with resistance to visceral leishmaniasis, suggesting that MAIT cells play important role in protecting against VL. In summary, these results broaden our understanding of MAIT-cell immunity to include protection against parasitic infections, with implications for MAIT-cell-based therapeutics and vaccines. At last, this study paves the way for the investigation of putative MAIT cell antigens that could exist in the context of Leishmania infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcela de Lima Moreira
- René Rachou Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ-MINAS), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Marcelo Antônio Pascoal-Xavier
- René Rachou Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ-MINAS), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ágata Lopes Ribeiro
- René Rachou Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ-MINAS), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Troi Pediongco
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Andréa Teixeira-Carvalho
- René Rachou Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ-MINAS), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Andrea Lucchesi de Carvalho
- João Paulo II Children’s Hospital, Fundação Hospitalar do Estado de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Flávia Alves Campos
- João Paulo II Children’s Hospital, Fundação Hospitalar do Estado de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Marineide Borges
- João Paulo II Children’s Hospital, Fundação Hospitalar do Estado de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Mariângela Carneiro
- Parasitology Department, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Zhenjun Chen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Eleanor Saunders
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Malcolm McConville
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Moriya Tsuji
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - James McCluskey
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Sidonia Barbara Guiomar Eckle
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Jordana Grazziela Alves Coelho-dos-Reis
- René Rachou Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ-MINAS), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Department of Microbiology, Institute for Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Vanessa Peruhype-Magalhães, ; ; Jordana Grazziela Alves Coelho-dos-Reis, ;
| | - Vanessa Peruhype-Magalhães
- René Rachou Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ-MINAS), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Vanessa Peruhype-Magalhães, ; ; Jordana Grazziela Alves Coelho-dos-Reis, ;
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Leishmania donovani Impedes Antileishmanial Immunity by Suppressing Dendritic Cells via the TIM-3 Receptor. mBio 2022; 13:e0330921. [PMID: 35924848 PMCID: PMC9426438 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03309-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
An immunological hallmark of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), caused by Leishmania donovani, is profound immunosuppression. However, the molecular basis for this immune dysfunction has remained ill defined. Since dendritic cells (DCs) normally initiate antileishmanial immune responses, we investigated whether DCs are dysregulated during L. donovani infection and assessed its role in immunosuppression. Accordingly, we determined the regulatory effect of L. donovani on DCs. Notably, it is still unclear whether L. donovani activates or suppresses DCs. In addition, the molecular mechanism and the relevant receptor (or receptors) mediating the immunoregulatory effect of L. donovani on DCs are largely undefined. Here, we report that L. donovani inhibited DC activation/maturation by transmitting inhibitory signals through the T cell immunoglobulin and mucin protein-3 (TIM-3) receptor and thereby suppressed antileishmanial immune responses. L. donovani in fact triggered TIM-3 phosphorylation in DCs, which in turn recruited and activated a nonreceptor tyrosine kinase, Btk. Btk then inhibited DC activation/maturation by suppressing the NF-κB pathway in an interleukin-10 (IL-10)-dependent manner. Treatment with TIM-3-specific blocking antibody or suppressed expression of TIM-3 or downstream effector Btk made DCs resistant to the inhibitory effects of L. donovani. Adoptive transfer experiments further demonstrated that TIM-3-mediated L. donovani-induced inhibition of DCs plays a crucial role in the suppression of the antileishmanial immune response in vivo. These findings identify TIM-3 as a new regulator of the antileishmanial immune response and demonstrate a unique mechanism for host immunosuppression associated with L. donovani infection. IMPORTANCE Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), a poverty-related disease caused by Leishmania donovani, is ranked by the World Health Organization as the second largest killer parasitic disease in the world. The protective immune response against VL is primarily regulated by dendritic cells (DCs), which upon activation/maturation initiate an antileishmanial immune response. However, it remains obscure whether L. donovani promotes or inhibits DC activation. In addition, the receptor through which L. donovani exerts immunoregulatory effect on DCs is ill defined. Here, we for the first time report that L. donovani inhibits DC activation and maturation via the T cell immunoglobulin and mucin protein-3 (TIM-3) receptor and thereby attenuates the capacity of DCs to trigger antileishmanial immune responses in vivo. In fact, we demonstrate here that suppression of TIM-3 expression in DCs augments antileishmanial immunity. Our study uncovers a unique mechanism by which L. donovani subverts host immune responses and suggests TIM-3 as a potential new target for immunotherapy against VL.
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Takele Y, Adem E, Mulaw T, Müller I, Cotton JA, Kropf P. Following successful anti-leishmanial treatment, neutrophil counts, CD10 expression and phagocytic capacity remain reduced in visceral leishmaniasis patients co-infected with HIV. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010681. [PMID: 35969625 PMCID: PMC9410551 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) patients co-infected with HIV (VL/HIV patients) experience frequent treatment failures, VL relapses, opportunistic infections, and higher mortality. Their immune system remains profoundly suppressed after clinical cure and they maintain higher parasite load. This is in contrast with patients with VL alone (VL patients). Since neutrophils play a critical role in the control of Leishmania replication and the regulation of immune responses, we tested the hypothesis that neutrophil activation status and effector functions are fully restored in VL, but not in VL/HIV patients. Our results show the neutrophil counts and all activation markers and effector functions tested in our study were reduced at the time of diagnosis in VL and VL/HIV patients as compared to controls. CD62L, CD63, arginase 1 expression levels and reactive oxygen species production were restored at the end of treatment in both groups. However, neutrophil counts, CD10 expression and phagocytosis remained significantly lower throughout follow-up in VL/HIV patients; suggesting that dysregulated neutrophils contribute to the impaired host defence against pathogens in VL/HIV patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yegnasew Takele
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Leishmaniasis Research and Treatment Centre, University of Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Emebet Adem
- Leishmaniasis Research and Treatment Centre, University of Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Tadele Mulaw
- Leishmaniasis Research and Treatment Centre, University of Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Ingrid Müller
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Pascale Kropf
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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Jaimes JR. Severe mucosal leishmaniasis with torpid and fatal evolution. Clin Case Rep 2022; 10:e6220. [PMID: 35990382 PMCID: PMC9376139 DOI: 10.1002/ccr3.6220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Mucosal leishmaniasis is a clinical condition that is difficult to diagnose and treat and usually precedes a cutaneous leishmaniasis condition with a long latency period as observed in our study of a patient who experienced a torpid evolution in 9 months, caused by having had cutaneous leishmaniasis on the neck without therapeutic treatment, although with ulcer closure 18 years earlier, incomplete treatment with antimonials and amphotericin B, with the destruction of the eyeball, a large area of necrosis on the face and nasal bone exposure. Additionally, the patient had chronic anemia (9.4 g/dl), lymphopenia and neutrophilia (lymphocytes 13.1%, neutrophils 84.4%), and co-infections by fungi (yeasts and hyphae) and Gram-negative bacteria (multidrug-resistant Proteus mirabilis and Escherichia coli) leading to sepsis and subsequent death of the patient.
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Lage DP, Vale DL, Linhares FP, Freitas CS, Machado AS, Cardoso JMO, de Oliveira D, Galvani NC, de Oliveira MP, Oliveira-da-Silva JA, Ramos FF, Tavares GSV, Ludolf F, Bandeira RS, Pereira IAG, Chávez-Fumagalli MA, Roatt BM, Machado-de-Ávila RA, Christodoulides M, Coelho EAF, Martins VT. A Recombinant Chimeric Protein-Based Vaccine Containing T-Cell Epitopes from Amastigote Proteins and Combined with Distinct Adjuvants, Induces Immunogenicity and Protection against Leishmania infantum Infection. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10071146. [PMID: 35891310 PMCID: PMC9317424 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10071146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Currently, there is no licensed vaccine to protect against human visceral leishmaniasis (VL), a potentially fatal disease caused by infection with Leishmania parasites. In the current study, a recombinant chimeric protein ChimT was developed based on T-cell epitopes identified from the immunogenic Leishmania amastigote proteins LiHyp1, LiHyV, LiHyC and LiHyG. ChimT was associated with the adjuvants saponin (Sap) or monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA) and used to immunize mice, and their immunogenicity and protective efficacy were evaluated. Both ChimT/Sap and ChimT/MPLA induced the development of a specific Th1-type immune response, with significantly high levels of IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-12, TNF-α and GM-CSF cytokines produced by CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subtypes (p < 0.05), with correspondingly low production of anti-leishmanial IL-4 and IL-10 cytokines. Significantly increased (p < 0.05) levels of nitrite, a proxy for nitric oxide, and IFN-γ expression (p < 0.05) were detected in stimulated spleen cell cultures from immunized and infected mice, as was significant production of parasite-specific IgG2a isotype antibodies. Significant reductions in the parasite load in the internal organs of the immunized and infected mice (p < 0.05) were quantified with a limiting dilution technique and quantitative PCR and correlated with the immunological findings. ChimT/MPLA showed marginally superior immunogenicity than ChimT/Sap, and although this was not statistically significant (p > 0.05), ChimT/MPLA was preferred since ChimT/Sap induced transient edema in the inoculation site. ChimT also induced high IFN-γ and low IL-10 levels from human PBMCs isolated from healthy individuals and from VL-treated patients. In conclusion, the experimental T-cell multi-epitope amastigote stage Leishmania vaccine administered with adjuvants appears to be a promising vaccine candidate to protect against VL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela P. Lage
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena, 190, Belo Horizonte 30130-100, MG, Brazil; (D.P.L.); (D.L.V.); (F.P.L.); (C.S.F.); (A.S.M.); (N.C.G.); (M.P.d.O.); (J.A.O.-d.-S.); (F.F.R.); (G.S.V.T.); (F.L.); (R.S.B.); (I.A.G.P.); (E.A.F.C.); (V.T.M.)
| | - Danniele L. Vale
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena, 190, Belo Horizonte 30130-100, MG, Brazil; (D.P.L.); (D.L.V.); (F.P.L.); (C.S.F.); (A.S.M.); (N.C.G.); (M.P.d.O.); (J.A.O.-d.-S.); (F.F.R.); (G.S.V.T.); (F.L.); (R.S.B.); (I.A.G.P.); (E.A.F.C.); (V.T.M.)
| | - Flávia P. Linhares
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena, 190, Belo Horizonte 30130-100, MG, Brazil; (D.P.L.); (D.L.V.); (F.P.L.); (C.S.F.); (A.S.M.); (N.C.G.); (M.P.d.O.); (J.A.O.-d.-S.); (F.F.R.); (G.S.V.T.); (F.L.); (R.S.B.); (I.A.G.P.); (E.A.F.C.); (V.T.M.)
| | - Camila S. Freitas
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena, 190, Belo Horizonte 30130-100, MG, Brazil; (D.P.L.); (D.L.V.); (F.P.L.); (C.S.F.); (A.S.M.); (N.C.G.); (M.P.d.O.); (J.A.O.-d.-S.); (F.F.R.); (G.S.V.T.); (F.L.); (R.S.B.); (I.A.G.P.); (E.A.F.C.); (V.T.M.)
| | - Amanda S. Machado
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena, 190, Belo Horizonte 30130-100, MG, Brazil; (D.P.L.); (D.L.V.); (F.P.L.); (C.S.F.); (A.S.M.); (N.C.G.); (M.P.d.O.); (J.A.O.-d.-S.); (F.F.R.); (G.S.V.T.); (F.L.); (R.S.B.); (I.A.G.P.); (E.A.F.C.); (V.T.M.)
| | - Jamille M. O. Cardoso
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas (NUPEB), Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Insituto de Ciências Exatas e Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto CEP 35400-000, MG, Brazil; (J.M.O.C.); (B.M.R.)
| | - Daysiane de Oliveira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma 88806-000, SC, Brazil; (D.d.O.); (R.A.M.-d.-Á.)
| | - Nathália C. Galvani
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena, 190, Belo Horizonte 30130-100, MG, Brazil; (D.P.L.); (D.L.V.); (F.P.L.); (C.S.F.); (A.S.M.); (N.C.G.); (M.P.d.O.); (J.A.O.-d.-S.); (F.F.R.); (G.S.V.T.); (F.L.); (R.S.B.); (I.A.G.P.); (E.A.F.C.); (V.T.M.)
| | - Marcelo P. de Oliveira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena, 190, Belo Horizonte 30130-100, MG, Brazil; (D.P.L.); (D.L.V.); (F.P.L.); (C.S.F.); (A.S.M.); (N.C.G.); (M.P.d.O.); (J.A.O.-d.-S.); (F.F.R.); (G.S.V.T.); (F.L.); (R.S.B.); (I.A.G.P.); (E.A.F.C.); (V.T.M.)
| | - João A. Oliveira-da-Silva
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena, 190, Belo Horizonte 30130-100, MG, Brazil; (D.P.L.); (D.L.V.); (F.P.L.); (C.S.F.); (A.S.M.); (N.C.G.); (M.P.d.O.); (J.A.O.-d.-S.); (F.F.R.); (G.S.V.T.); (F.L.); (R.S.B.); (I.A.G.P.); (E.A.F.C.); (V.T.M.)
| | - Fernanda F. Ramos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena, 190, Belo Horizonte 30130-100, MG, Brazil; (D.P.L.); (D.L.V.); (F.P.L.); (C.S.F.); (A.S.M.); (N.C.G.); (M.P.d.O.); (J.A.O.-d.-S.); (F.F.R.); (G.S.V.T.); (F.L.); (R.S.B.); (I.A.G.P.); (E.A.F.C.); (V.T.M.)
| | - Grasiele S. V. Tavares
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena, 190, Belo Horizonte 30130-100, MG, Brazil; (D.P.L.); (D.L.V.); (F.P.L.); (C.S.F.); (A.S.M.); (N.C.G.); (M.P.d.O.); (J.A.O.-d.-S.); (F.F.R.); (G.S.V.T.); (F.L.); (R.S.B.); (I.A.G.P.); (E.A.F.C.); (V.T.M.)
| | - Fernanda Ludolf
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena, 190, Belo Horizonte 30130-100, MG, Brazil; (D.P.L.); (D.L.V.); (F.P.L.); (C.S.F.); (A.S.M.); (N.C.G.); (M.P.d.O.); (J.A.O.-d.-S.); (F.F.R.); (G.S.V.T.); (F.L.); (R.S.B.); (I.A.G.P.); (E.A.F.C.); (V.T.M.)
| | - Raquel S. Bandeira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena, 190, Belo Horizonte 30130-100, MG, Brazil; (D.P.L.); (D.L.V.); (F.P.L.); (C.S.F.); (A.S.M.); (N.C.G.); (M.P.d.O.); (J.A.O.-d.-S.); (F.F.R.); (G.S.V.T.); (F.L.); (R.S.B.); (I.A.G.P.); (E.A.F.C.); (V.T.M.)
| | - Isabela A. G. Pereira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena, 190, Belo Horizonte 30130-100, MG, Brazil; (D.P.L.); (D.L.V.); (F.P.L.); (C.S.F.); (A.S.M.); (N.C.G.); (M.P.d.O.); (J.A.O.-d.-S.); (F.F.R.); (G.S.V.T.); (F.L.); (R.S.B.); (I.A.G.P.); (E.A.F.C.); (V.T.M.)
| | - Miguel A. Chávez-Fumagalli
- Computational Biology and Chemistry Research Group, Vicerrectorado de Investigación, Universidad Católica de Santa María, Urb. San José S/N, Umacollo, Arequipa 04000, Peru;
| | - Bruno M. Roatt
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas (NUPEB), Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Insituto de Ciências Exatas e Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto CEP 35400-000, MG, Brazil; (J.M.O.C.); (B.M.R.)
| | - Ricardo A. Machado-de-Ávila
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma 88806-000, SC, Brazil; (D.d.O.); (R.A.M.-d.-Á.)
| | - Myron Christodoulides
- Neisseria Research Group, Molecular Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +44-02381-205120
| | - Eduardo A. F. Coelho
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena, 190, Belo Horizonte 30130-100, MG, Brazil; (D.P.L.); (D.L.V.); (F.P.L.); (C.S.F.); (A.S.M.); (N.C.G.); (M.P.d.O.); (J.A.O.-d.-S.); (F.F.R.); (G.S.V.T.); (F.L.); (R.S.B.); (I.A.G.P.); (E.A.F.C.); (V.T.M.)
- Departamento de Patologia Clínica, Colégio Técnico (COLTEC), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Vívian T. Martins
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena, 190, Belo Horizonte 30130-100, MG, Brazil; (D.P.L.); (D.L.V.); (F.P.L.); (C.S.F.); (A.S.M.); (N.C.G.); (M.P.d.O.); (J.A.O.-d.-S.); (F.F.R.); (G.S.V.T.); (F.L.); (R.S.B.); (I.A.G.P.); (E.A.F.C.); (V.T.M.)
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Association between interleukin 10 (IL-10) polymorphisms and leishmaniasis progression: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sci Rep 2022; 12:11136. [PMID: 35778471 PMCID: PMC9249748 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15377-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Interleukin 10 (IL-10) is associated with the progression of leishmaniasis because it inhibits the leishmanicidal action of macrophages and the production of mediators such as IFN-γ and nitric oxide. Studies have shown that specific polymorphisms are associated with the regulatory role of IL-10 and the development of more relevant clinical forms of leishamaniasis. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of IL-10 influence the progression of leishmaniasis. The selected articles were read in full and only those consistent with the eligibility criteria were included in our study. Seven studies were eligible according to the inclusion criteria and were included in the present systematic review, but only five were subjected to statistical analysis. The pooled odds ratios showed no significant association between the rs1800871 SNP and the progression of leishmaniasis in all genotype models, including the dominant, recessive, homozygote, heterozygote, and allelic models. Regarding the association between rs1800896 SNP and the progression of leishmaniasis, the pooled odds ratios showed no association under all genotype models. Hence, IL-10 SNPs did not show significant association and were not considered a risk factor for the progression of leishmaniasis.
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32
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Takele Y, Adem E, Franssen SU, Womersley R, Kaforou M, Levin M, Müller I, Cotton JA, Kropf P. Impaired in vitro Interferon-γ production in patients with visceral leishmaniasis is improved by inhibition of PD1/PDL-1 ligation. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010544. [PMID: 35749568 PMCID: PMC9262188 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a neglected tropical disease that causes substantial morbidity and mortality and is a growing health problem in Ethiopia, where this study took place. Most individuals infected with Leishmania donovani parasites will stay asymptomatic, but some develop VL that, if left untreated, is almost always fatal. This stage of the disease is associated with a profound immunosuppression, characterised by impaired production of Interferonγ (IFNγ), a cytokine that plays a key role in the control of Leishmania parasites, and high expression levels of an inhibitory receptor, programmed cell death 1 (PD1) on CD4+ T cells. Here, we tested the contribution of the interaction between the immune checkpoint PD1 and its ligand PDL-1 on the impaired production of IFNγ in VL patients. Our results show that in the blood of VL patients, not only CD4+, but also CD8+ T cells express high levels of PD1 at the time of VL diagnosis. Next, we identified PDL-1 expression on different monocyte subsets and neutrophils and show that PDL-1 levels were significantly increased in VL patients. PD1/PDL-1 inhibition resulted in significantly increased production of IFNγ, suggesting that therapy using immune checkpoint inhibitors might improve disease control in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yegnasew Takele
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Leishmaniasis Research and Treatment Centre, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, United Kingdom
| | - Emebet Adem
- Leishmaniasis Research and Treatment Centre, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | | | - Rebecca Womersley
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Myrsini Kaforou
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Levin
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ingrid Müller
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Pascale Kropf
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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Zhang J, Li J, Hu K, Zhou Q, Chen X, He J, Yin S, Chi Y, Liao X, Xiao Y, Qin H, Zheng Z, Chen J. Screening Novel Vaccine Candidates for Leishmania Donovani by Combining Differential Proteomics and Immunoinformatics Analysis. Front Immunol 2022; 13:902066. [PMID: 35812381 PMCID: PMC9260594 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.902066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), also known as kala-azar, is the most dangerous form of leishmaniasis. Currently no effective vaccine is available for clinical use. Since the pathogenicity of different Leishmania strains is inconsistent, the differentially expressed proteins in Leishmania strains may play an important role as virulence factors in pathogenesis. Therefore, effective vaccine candidate targets may exist in the differentially expressed proteins. In this study, we used differential proteomics analysis to find the differentially expressed proteins in two Leishmania donovani strains, and combined with immunoinformatics analysis to find new vaccine candidates. The differentially expressed proteins from L. DD8 (low virulent) and L. 9044 (virulent) strains were analyzed by LC-MS/MS, and preliminarily screened by antigenicity, allergenicity and homology evaluation. The binding peptides of MHC II, IFN-γ and MHC I from differentially expressed proteins were then predicted and calculated for the second screening. IFN-γ/IL-10 ratios and conserved domain prediction were performed to choose more desirable differentially expressed proteins. Finally, the 3D structures of three vaccine candidate proteins were produced and submitted for molecular dynamics simulation and molecular docking interaction with TLR4/MD2. The results showed that 396 differentially expressed proteins were identified by LC-MS/MS, and 155 differentially expressed proteins were selected through antigenicity, allergenicity and homology evaluation. Finally, 16 proteins whose percentages of MHC II, IFN-γ and MHC I binding peptides were greater than those of control groups (TSA, LmSTI1, LeIF, Leish-111f) were considered to be suitable vaccine candidates. Among the 16 candidates, amino acid permease, amastin-like protein and the hypothetical protein (XP_003865405.1) simultaneously had the large ratios of IFN-γ/IL-10 and high percentages of MHC II, IFN-γ and MHC I, which should be focused on. In conclusion, our comprehensive work provided a methodological basis to screen new vaccine candidates for a better intervention against VL and associated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhui Zhang
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiao Li
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Kaifeng Hu
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qi Zhou
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Chen
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jinlei He
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shuangshuang Yin
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yangjian Chi
- Department of Urinary Surgery, Jianou Municipal Hospital of Fujian Province, Jianou, China
| | - Xuechun Liao
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuying Xiao
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Hanxiao Qin
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhiwan Zheng
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Zhiwan Zheng, ; Jianping Chen,
| | - Jianping Chen
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Zhiwan Zheng, ; Jianping Chen,
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Guedes DL, da Silva ED, Castro MCAB, Júnior WLB, Ibarra-Meneses AV, Tsoumanis A, Adriaensen W, van Griensven J, Pereira VRA, de Medeiros ZM. Comparison of serum cytokine levels in symptomatic and asymptomatic HIV-Leishmania coinfected individuals from a Brazilian visceral leishmaniasis endemic area. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010542. [PMID: 35714136 PMCID: PMC9246190 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) remains an important infectious disease worldwide. VL-HIV coinfected individuals can present with atypical clinical forms of VL and have a high risk of VL relapse. Some cytokines have been described as potential markers to diagnose active VL and to predict the severity of the cases. However, few studies have included VL-HIV coinfected patients. We aimed to characterize the levels of several cytokines among VL-HIV coinfected individuals living in a VL-endemic area in Northeast Brazil. Methods This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study, aiming to estimate the levels of various cytokines in symptomatic and asymptomatic VL-HIV coinfected individuals. There were 134 study participants (35 symptomatic VL-HIV, 75 asymptomatic VL-HIV, and 24 healthy controls), all ≥ 18 years-old. Serum cytokine levels (interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor, and interleukins 2, 4, 6, 10, and 17A) were quantified using the Becton Dickinson-BD’s Cytometric Bead Array (CBA) system. Results The population mainly consisted of men (64.9%), with a median age of 35 (27–41) years. Asymptomatic individuals were younger (p = 0.013), with more years of education (p < 0.001), and were more often on antiretroviral therapy (p < 0.001) than those in the symptomatic group. Hemoglobin levels (p < 0.001), lymphocytes (p < 0.001) and CD4 count (p < 0.001) were lower in symptomatic individuals, while HIV viral loads were higher (p < 0.001). In the symptomatic VL-HIV coinfected group, we observed increased serum levels of IL-17A, IL-6, and IL-10 compared to asymptomatic patients and the healthy controls. There were no differences in the levels of all cytokines between asymptomatic VL-HIV coinfected individuals and the healthy controls. Conclusions Higher serum levels of IL-17A, IL-6, and IL-10 cytokines were observed in symptomatic coinfected individuals but not in asymptomatically infected individuals. More studies among HIV-positive persons are needed to better understand the role of serum cytokines for prognosis, to define cure and predict VL relapses in VL-HIV coinfected individuals. Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a parasitic disease, classified as a neglected disease by the World Health Organization. It is present in more than 60 countries in four continents, with most tropical and subtropical countries affected. Without treatment, the disease is fatal. HIV-positive persons are especially affected by VL, with a worst prognosis. One of the main complications is the frequent reactivation of the disease even after successful treatment (VL relapse). Up to now, it is not clear why and when these reactivations occur, and many researches are trying to find some biological markers to answer this. Cytokines are one of these markers that may explain the progression of the disease. In this study, we compared the level of several key cytokines in symptomatic VL-HIV coinfected patients, asymptomatic VL-HIV coinfected individuals, and healthy controls living in a VL-endemic region in Northeastern Brazil. The serum cytokine levels were higher in symptomatic patients when compared with asymptomatic and healthy controls. More studies following VL-HIV patients are necessary to understand how these cytokines and the other biomarkers vary over time and whether they can predict VL relapse, and also the progression and the prognosis of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Lins Guedes
- Department of Parasitology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute–Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
- Curso de medicina, Núcleo de Ciências da Vida, Centro Acadêmico do Agreste, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Caruaru, Pernambuco, Brazil
- * E-mail:
| | - Elis Dionísio da Silva
- Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute–Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Maria Carolina Accioly Brelaz Castro
- Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute–Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
- Parasitology Laboratory, Federal University of Pernambuco, Vitoria de Santo Antão, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Walter Lins Barbosa Júnior
- Department of Parasitology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute–Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Ana Victoria Ibarra-Meneses
- Département de pathologie et microbiologie. Faculté de médecine vétérinaire. Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada
- The Research Group on Infectious Diseases in Production Animals (GREMIP), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Achilleas Tsoumanis
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Wim Adriaensen
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Johan van Griensven
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Valéria Rêgo Alves Pereira
- Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute–Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Zulma Maria de Medeiros
- Department of Parasitology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute–Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
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Costa-Madeira JC, Trindade GB, Almeida PHP, Silva JS, Carregaro V. T Lymphocyte Exhaustion During Human and Experimental Visceral Leishmaniasis. Front Immunol 2022; 13:835711. [PMID: 35585983 PMCID: PMC9108272 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.835711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A key point of immunity against protozoan Leishmania parasites is the development of an optimal T cell response, which includes a low apoptotic rate, high proliferative activity and polyfunctionality. During acute infection, antigen-specific T cells recognize the pathogen resulting in pathogen control but not elimination, promoting the development and the maintenance of a population of circulating effector cells that mount rapid response quickly after re-exposure to the parasite. However, in the case of visceral disease, the functionality of specific T cells is lost during chronic infection, resulting in inferior effector functions, poor response to specific restimulation, and suboptimal homeostatic proliferation, a term referred to as T cell exhaustion. Multiple factors, including parasite load, infection duration and host immunity, affect T lymphocyte exhaustion. These factors contribute to antigen persistence by promoting inhibitory receptor expression and sustained production of soluble mediators, influencing suppressive cell function and the release of endogenous molecules into chronically inflamed tissue. Together, these signals encourage several changes, reprogramming cells into a quiescent state, which reflects disease progression to more severe forms, and development of acquired resistance to conventional drugs to treat the disease. These points are discussed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana C. Costa-Madeira
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University from São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Gabrielly B. Trindade
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University from São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Paulo H. P. Almeida
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University from São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - João S. Silva
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University from São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
- Fiocruz-Bi-Institutional Translational Medicine Project, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Carregaro
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University from São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
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Andrades Gómez C, Sánchez-Agesta Martínez M, Luna Aguilera A, Montilla Cosano G, Toro Ramos MM. Glomerulonefritis inmunomediada y crioglobulinemia mixta como forma de presentación de leishmaniasis visceral en paciente con VIH. Nefrologia 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nefro.2022.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
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Stijlemans B, Schoovaerts M, De Baetselier P, Magez S, De Trez C. The Role of MIF and IL-10 as Molecular Yin-Yang in the Modulation of the Host Immune Microenvironment During Infections: African Trypanosome Infections as a Paradigm. Front Immunol 2022; 13:865395. [PMID: 35464430 PMCID: PMC9022210 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.865395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
African trypanosomes are extracellular flagellated unicellular protozoan parasites transmitted by tsetse flies and causing Sleeping Sickness disease in humans and Nagana disease in cattle and other livestock. These diseases are usually characterized by the development of a fatal chronic inflammatory disease if left untreated. During African trypanosome infection and many other infectious diseases, the immune response is mediating a see-saw balance between effective/protective immunity and excessive infection-induced inflammation that can cause collateral tissue damage. African trypanosomes are known to trigger a strong type I pro-inflammatory response, which contributes to peak parasitaemia control, but this can culminate into the development of immunopathologies, such as anaemia and liver injury, if not tightly controlled. In this context, the macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and the interleukin-10 (IL-10) cytokines may operate as a molecular “Yin-Yang” in the modulation of the host immune microenvironment during African trypanosome infection, and possibly other infectious diseases. MIF is a pleiotropic pro-inflammatory cytokine and critical upstream mediator of immune and inflammatory responses, associated with exaggerated inflammation and immunopathology. For example, it plays a crucial role in the pro-inflammatory response against African trypanosomes and other pathogens, thereby promoting the development of immunopathologies. On the other hand, IL-10 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine, acting as a master regulator of inflammation during both African trypanosomiasis and other diseases. IL-10 is crucial to counteract the strong MIF-induced pro-inflammatory response, leading to pathology control. Hence, novel strategies capable of blocking MIF and/or promoting IL-10 receptor signaling pathways, could potentially be used as therapy to counteract immunopathology development during African trypanosome infection, as well as during other infectious conditions. Together, this review aims at summarizing the current knowledge on the opposite immunopathological molecular “Yin-Yang” switch roles of MIF and IL-10 in the modulation of the host immune microenvironment during infection, and more particularly during African trypanosomiasis as a paradigm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benoit Stijlemans
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium.,Myeloid Cell Immunology Laboratory, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB) Centre for Inflammation Research, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Maxime Schoovaerts
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Patrick De Baetselier
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium.,Myeloid Cell Immunology Laboratory, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB) Centre for Inflammation Research, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Stefan Magez
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium.,Laboratory of Biomedical Research, Ghent University Global Campus, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Carl De Trez
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
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Gallo-Francisco PH, Brocchi M, Giorgio S. Leishmania and its relationships with bacteria. Future Microbiol 2022; 17:199-218. [PMID: 35040703 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2021-0133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a zoonotic and neglected disease, which represents an important public health problem worldwide. Different species of Leishmania are associated with different manifestations, and a practical problem that can worsen the condition of hosts infected with Leishmania is the secondary infection caused by bacteria. This review aims to examine the importance and prevalence of bacteria co-infection during leishmaniasis and the nature of this ecological relationship. In the cases discussed in this review, the facilitation phenomenon, defined as any interaction where the action of one organism has a beneficial effect on an organism of another species, was considered in the Leishmania-bacteria interaction, as well as the effects on one another and their consequences for the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro H Gallo-Francisco
- Department of Animal Biology, Biology Institute, State University of Campinas, Campinas SP, 13083-862, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Brocchi
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology & Immunology, Biology Institute, State University of Campinas, Campinas SP, Brazil
| | - Selma Giorgio
- Department of Animal Biology, Biology Institute, State University of Campinas, Campinas SP, 13083-862, Brazil
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Takele Y, Mulaw T, Adem E, Shaw CJ, Franssen SU, Womersley R, Kaforou M, Taylor GP, Levin M, Müller I, Cotton JA, Kropf P. Immunological factors, but not clinical features, predict visceral leishmaniasis relapse in patients co-infected with HIV. Cell Rep Med 2022; 3:100487. [PMID: 35106507 PMCID: PMC8784791 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2021.100487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) has emerged as a clinically important opportunistic infection in HIV patients, as VL/HIV co-infected patients suffer from frequent VL relapse. Here, we follow cohorts of VL patients with or without HIV in Ethiopia. By the end of the study, 78.1% of VL/HIV-but none of the VL patients-experience VL relapse. Despite a clinically defined cure, VL/HIV patients maintain higher parasite loads, lower BMI, hepatosplenomegaly, and pancytopenia. We identify three immunological markers associated with VL relapse in VL/HIV patients: (1) failure to restore antigen-specific production of IFN-γ, (2) persistently lower CD4+ T cell counts, and (3) higher expression of PD1 on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. We show that these three markers, which can be measured in primary hospital settings in Ethiopia, combine well in predicting VL relapse. The use of our prediction model has the potential to improve disease management and patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yegnasew Takele
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK
- Leishmaniasis Research and Treatment Centre, University of Gondar, PO Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Tadele Mulaw
- Leishmaniasis Research and Treatment Centre, University of Gondar, PO Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Emebet Adem
- Leishmaniasis Research and Treatment Centre, University of Gondar, PO Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Caroline Jayne Shaw
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion, and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | | | - Rebecca Womersley
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK
| | - Myrsini Kaforou
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK
| | | | - Michael Levin
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK
| | - Ingrid Müller
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK
| | | | - Pascale Kropf
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK
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Thakur L, Madaan P, Jain A, Shankar V, Negi A, Chauhan SB, Sundar S, Singh OP, Jain M. An Insight Into Systemic Immune Response in Leishmania donovani Mediated Atypical Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in the New Endemic State of Himachal Pradesh, India. Front Immunol 2022; 12:765684. [PMID: 35087516 PMCID: PMC8787830 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.765684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis continues to afflict known and newer endemic sites despite global efforts towards its control and elimination. In this regard, the emergence of newer endemic sites with unusual disease formats is recognized wherein Leishmania donovani complex classically known to cause visceral disease is demonstrated to cause cutaneous manifestation. In this context, atypical cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) cases caused by L. donovani genetic variants from the newer endemic state of Himachal Pradesh (HP) in India are beginning to be understood in terms of parasite determinants. The atypical CL manifestation further needs to be explored to define host immune correlates with a possible role in driving the unusual disease progression. In the given study, we performed comprehensive systemic-immune profiling of the atypical CL patients from the study area in HP, India, in comparison with the classical visceral leishmaniasis (VL) patients from the northeast region of India. The systemic immune response was studied using ELISA-based assessment of Th1, Th2, Th17, Treg, and Th22 specific plasma cytokine expression pattern and parasite-specific total serum IgG/IgG subclasses. The specified immune correlates are known to exhibit heterogeneous association with the different infecting parasite species, infection load, and co-lateral host immunopathology in classical CL and VL. In the atypical CL patient group, altered expression of IL-10 emerged as the key finding that could potentially fine-tune the Th1/Th17/Th22 effector cytokine axis towards a localized cutaneous manifestation. A reduced expression of IL-10 along with a high IFN-γ/IL-10 ratio as a readout of effective parasite killing defined atypical cutaneous outcome. In contrast, high circulatory IL-10 levels and a depressed IFN-γ/IL-10 ratio were seen in classical VL patients in line with an ineffective parasite-killing cytokine response. Overall, the study highlights new knowledge on host immune correlates in terms of cytokine expression pattern and IgG subclasses that underline atypical disease manifestation such that L. donovani, a generally visceralizing parasite species cause skin localized cutaneous lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lovlesh Thakur
- Department of Zoology, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, India
| | - Priyanka Madaan
- Department of Biochemistry, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, India
| | - Aklank Jain
- Department of Zoology, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, India
| | - Vinay Shankar
- Department of Dermatology, Maharishi Markandeshwar Medical College and Hospital, Kumarhatti, Solan, India
| | - Ajeet Negi
- Department of Dermatology, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, India
| | - Shashi Bhushan Chauhan
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Shyam Sundar
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Om Prakash Singh
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Manju Jain
- Department of Biochemistry, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, India
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Barros-Gonçalves TDD, Saavedra AF, da Silva-Couto L, Ribeiro-Romão RP, Bezerra-Paiva M, Gomes-Silva A, Carvalho VF, Da-Cruz AM, Pinto EF. Increased levels of cortisol are associated with the severity of experimental visceral leishmaniasis in a Leishmania (L.) infantum-hamster model. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009987. [PMID: 34813597 PMCID: PMC8651114 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Several infectious diseases are associated with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis disorders by elevating circulating glucocorticoids (GCs), which are known to have an immunosuppressive potential. We conducted this study in golden hamsters, a suitable model for human visceral leishmaniasis (VL), to investigate the relationship of Leishmania (L.) infantum infection on cortisol production and VL severity. Methods L. infantum-infected (n = 42) and uninfected hamsters (n = 30) were followed-up at 30, 120, and 180 days post-infection (dpi). Plasma cortisol was analyzed by radioimmunoassay and cytokines, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and arginase by RT-qPCR. Results All hamsters showed splenomegaly at 180 dpi. Increased parasite burden was associated with higher arginase expression and lower iNOS induction. Cortisol levels were elevated in infected animals in all-time points evaluated. Except for monocytes, all other leucocytes showed a strong negative correlation with cortisol, while transaminases were positively correlated. Immunological markers as interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, IL-10, and transforming growth-factor-β (TGF-β) were positively correlated to cortisol production, while interferon-γ (IFN-γ) presented a negative correlation. A network analysis showed cortisol as an important knot linking clinical status and immunological parameters. Conclusions These results suggest that L. infantum increases the systemic levels of cortisol, which showed to be associated with hematological, biochemical, and immunological parameters associated to VL severity. Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is an infectious disease that is common in most tropical countries. VL has high morbidity and leads to death if not properly treated. In Brazil, Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum is the main causative agent of VL. Golden hamsters have proven to be a suitable model for VL. Despite the importance of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis disturbances in infectious disease, few studies have addressed this issue in VL. In this study, we showed that L. infantum-infected hamsters present augmented levels of plasmatic cortisol in association with increased spleen parasite burden. Indeed, a strong positive correlation was observed between cortisol and biochemical parameters (AST/ALT/ALP) related to liver damage, as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and IL-1β), anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10 and TGF-β), and the arginase enzyme that may favor the progression of infection. On the other side, cortisol was negatively correlated with leucocytes, except monocytes, and with IFN-γ and iNOS, which are involved in parasite-killing macrophage function. These results shed light on an unexplored aspect of VL pathogenesis, which is the importance of cortisol production in the disease-associated immune dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrea F. Saavedra
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas Médicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luzinei da Silva-Couto
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas Médicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Raquel P. Ribeiro-Romão
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas Médicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Milla Bezerra-Paiva
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas Médicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Adriano Gomes-Silva
- Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Vinicius F. Carvalho
- Laboratório de Inflamação, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Neuroimunomodulação (INCT-NIM), CNPq, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Alda Maria Da-Cruz
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas Médicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Neuroimunomodulação (INCT-NIM), CNPq, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Disciplina de Parasitologia-DMIP, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, UERJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Rede de Pesquisas em Saúde do Estado do Rio de Janeiro/FAPERJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Eduardo F. Pinto
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas Médicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Rede de Pesquisas em Saúde do Estado do Rio de Janeiro/FAPERJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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Sengupta S, Chatterjee M. IgG3 and IL10 are effective biomarkers for monitoring therapeutic effectiveness in Post Kala-Azar Dermal Leishmaniasis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009906. [PMID: 34758028 PMCID: PMC8580238 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The assessment of chemotherapeutic responses in Post Kala-azar Dermal Leishmaniasis (PKDL), especially its macular form is challenging, emphasizing the necessity for ‘test of cure’ tools. This study explored the diagnostic and prognostic potential of IgG subclasses and associated cytokines for monitoring the effectiveness of chemotherapy in PKDL. Methods Participants included PKDL cases at (a) disease presentation, (b) immediately at the end of treatment (12 weeks for Miltefosine or 3 weeks for Liposomal Amphotericin B, LAmB and (c) at any time point 6 months later, for estimating anti-leishmanial immunoglobulin (Ig, IgG, IgM, IgG1, IgG2 and IgG3) and cytokines (IL-10, IL-6). Results In PKDL, Ig levels were elevated, with IgG3 and IL-10 being the major contributors. Miltefosine decreased both markers substantially and this decrease was sustained for at least six months. In contrast, LAmB failed to decrease IgG3 and IL-10, as even after six months, their levels remained unchanged or even increased. Conclusions In PKDL, IgG3 and IL-10 proved to be effective predictors of responsiveness to chemotherapy and may be considered as a non invasive alternative for longitudinal monitoring. Post Kala-azar Dermal Leishmaniasis (PKDL) is a dermal condition that occurs in East Africa and South Asia, the latter in 5–10% of patients after apparent cure from Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL). Till date, conventional knowledge in South Asia was that the polymorphic form of PKDL comprising of macules, papules and nodules was the predominant disease form, constituting 85–90%. However, since 2014, implementation of active-case surveillance led to unearthing of a large number of macular, hypopigmented cases, and was reported to contribute to nearly 50% of the disease burden. In particular, the macular form poses a diagnostic dilemma as microscopically parasites are difficult to identify in their lesions, and repigmentation occurs months after parasite clearance, emphasizing the need for developing non-invasive approaches for measurement of parasite burden. Till date, no formal clinical trial for treatment of PKDL has been undertaken where the parasite load was quantified and treatment remains empirical. This is primarily due to PKDL cases being unwilling to provide a repeat skin biopsy once their lesions have declined. Therefore, in cases where treatment failure occurs, it cannot be precisely identified, and could potentially lead to these cases becoming mobile disease reservoirs, thereby adversely impacting on the ongoing VL elimination programme. This study addressed this critical lacuna, where it was established that in both clinical types of PKDL, circulating levels of IgG3 and IL-10 can be considered as effective markers for monitoring treatment outcome. At disease presentation, the raised levels of IgG subclasses and associated cytokines (IL-10 and IL-6) declined following therapy with Miltefosine, the maximum decrease being with IgG3 along with IL-10; importantly, this decrease was sustained for at least six months. In contrast, LAmB failed to decrease the levels of immunoglobulins and associated cytokines even six months after completion of treatment; in fact the antibody levels either increased or remained unchanged. Taken together, this study has established the potential of IgG3 and IL10 as a non-invasive alternative for monitoring of chemotherapeutic responses in PKDL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilpa Sengupta
- Dept. of Pharmacology, Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
| | - Mitali Chatterjee
- Dept. of Pharmacology, Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
- * E-mail:
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Beasley EA, Pessôa-Pereira D, Scorza BM, Petersen CA. Epidemiologic, Clinical and Immunological Consequences of Co-Infections during Canine Leishmaniosis. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11113206. [PMID: 34827938 PMCID: PMC8614518 DOI: 10.3390/ani11113206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Canine leishmaniosis (CanL), the most severe, visceralizing form of disease caused by Leishmania infantum transmitted by phlebotomine sand flies. CanL is frequently diagnosed in the Mediterranean basin and South America, although it is also found in other regions, including the United States (U.S.). Dogs in these regions are at risk for co-infections, prominently tick-borne diseases. Our review examines epidemiologic, clinical, and immunologic mechanisms found during the most common eight CanL co-infections reported in published literature. Co-infections alter immunologic processes and disease progression impacting CanL diagnosis, therapeutic responses, and prognosis. Abstract Canine leishmaniosis (CanL) is a vector-borne, parasitic disease. CanL is endemic in the Mediterranean basin and South America but also found in Northern Africa, Asia, and the U.S. Regions with both competent sand fly vectors and L. infantum parasites are also endemic for additional infectious diseases that could cause co-infections in dogs. Growing evidence indicates that co-infections can impact immunologic responses and thus the clinical course of both CanL and the comorbid disease(s). The aim for this review is to summarize epidemiologic, clinical, and immunologic factors contributing to eight primary co-infections reported with CanL: Ehrlichia spp., Anaplasma spp., Borrelia spp., Babesia spp., Trypanosoma cruzi, Toxoplasma gondii, Dirofilaria immitis, Paracoccidioides braziliensis. Co-infection causes mechanistic differences in immunity which can alter diagnostics, therapeutic management, and prognosis of dogs with CanL. More research is needed to further explore immunomodulation during CanL co-infection(s) and their clinical impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin A. Beasley
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; (E.A.B.); (D.P.-P.); (B.M.S.)
- Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Danielle Pessôa-Pereira
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; (E.A.B.); (D.P.-P.); (B.M.S.)
- Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Breanna M. Scorza
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; (E.A.B.); (D.P.-P.); (B.M.S.)
- Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Christine A. Petersen
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; (E.A.B.); (D.P.-P.); (B.M.S.)
- Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Correspondence:
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Laurenti MD, Sosa-Ochoa W, Araujo Flores GV, Sandoval Pacheco CM, Tomokane TY, Oliveira LMDS, Zúniga C, Silveira FT, Corbett CEP. Evaluation of systemic immunity in atypical cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (L.) infantum chagasi. Parasite Immunol 2021; 44:e12896. [PMID: 34748659 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
In some central-American countries, Leishmania (L.) infantum chagasi infection can cause non-ulcerated or atypical cutaneous leishmaniasis (NUCL) in addition to the classic clinical form, visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Little is known about the host-parasite relationship that can contribute to the determination of one or another clinical form. The present study had the objective to evaluate the humoral and cellular immunity in the sera of individuals affected by NUCL to improve the comprehension of this atypical host-parasite interaction. Based on clinical and laboratory diagnosis, serum of 80 individuals was collected to evaluate the cytokines and immunoglobulins profile of NUCL (n = 47), VL patients (n = 5), and negative controls (n = 28). Cytokines were detected using Cytokine Bead Array (CBA) Human Th1/Th2/Th17 kit according to the manufacturer's instructions; class (IgG and IgM), and subclass of (IgG1 and IgG2) immunoglobulins was evaluated by ELISA using specific antigens. The concentration of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-2 and IL-4 cytokines in NUCL, VL and control was present below the detection threshold of CBA kit. IL-6, IL-10 and IL-17A cytokines was lower in NUCL compared to LV patients. Regarding to immunoglobulins, NUCL patients produced 4.0 times more IgG than the control, while VL patients produced 6.6 times more; and IgM level was 1.6 times higher in NUCL and 2.6 times in VL patients compared to the control. Concerning the immunoglobulins subclass, only VL patients showed positive reaction for IgG1, and IgG2 did not show positive reaction among the groups. The results showed a weak cellular and humoral systemic immune response in NUCL patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Márcia Dalastra Laurenti
- Laboratório de Patologia de Moléstias Infecciosas (LIM-50), Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Wilfredo Sosa-Ochoa
- Laboratório de Patologia de Moléstias Infecciosas (LIM-50), Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.,Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras, Tegucigalpa, Honduras
| | - Gabriela Venicia Araujo Flores
- Laboratório de Patologia de Moléstias Infecciosas (LIM-50), Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Carmen Maria Sandoval Pacheco
- Laboratório de Patologia de Moléstias Infecciosas (LIM-50), Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Thaise Yumie Tomokane
- Laboratório de Patologia de Moléstias Infecciosas (LIM-50), Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Luanda Mara da Silva Oliveira
- Laboratório de Dermatologia e Imunodeficiências (LIM-56), Departamento de Dermatologia, Faculdade de Medicina e Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Concepción Zúniga
- Departamento de Vigilancia de la Salud, Hospital Escuela, Tegucigalpa, Honduras
| | - Fernando Tobias Silveira
- Laboratório de Parasitologia, Instituto Evandro Chagas (Ministério da Saúde), Belém, PA, Brasil.,Núcleo de Medicina Tropical, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, Brasil
| | - Carlos Eduardo Pereira Corbett
- Laboratório de Patologia de Moléstias Infecciosas (LIM-50), Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
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Volpedo G, Pacheco-Fernandez T, Bhattacharya P, Oljuskin T, Dey R, Gannavaram S, Satoskar AR, Nakhasi HL. Determinants of Innate Immunity in Visceral Leishmaniasis and Their Implication in Vaccine Development. Front Immunol 2021; 12:748325. [PMID: 34712235 PMCID: PMC8546207 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.748325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is endemic to the tropical and subtropical regions of the world and is transmitted by the bite of an infected sand fly. The multifaceted interactions between Leishmania, the host innate immune cells, and the adaptive immunity determine the severity of pathogenesis and disease development. Leishmania parasites establish a chronic infection by subversion and attenuation of the microbicidal functions of phagocytic innate immune cells such as neutrophils, macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs). Other innate cells such as inflammatory monocytes, mast cells and NK cells, also contribute to resistance and/or susceptibility to Leishmania infection. In addition to the cytokine/chemokine signals from the innate immune cells, recent studies identified the subtle shifts in the metabolic pathways of the innate cells that activate distinct immune signal cascades. The nexus between metabolic pathways, epigenetic reprogramming and the immune signaling cascades that drive the divergent innate immune responses, remains to be fully understood in Leishmania pathogenesis. Further, development of safe and efficacious vaccines against Leishmaniasis requires a broader understanding of the early interactions between the parasites and innate immune cells. In this review we focus on the current understanding of the specific role of innate immune cells, the metabolomic and epigenetic reprogramming and immune regulation that occurs during visceral leishmaniasis, and the strategies used by the parasite to evade and modulate host immunity. We highlight how such pathways could be exploited in the development of safe and efficacious Leishmania vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greta Volpedo
- Departments of Pathology and Microbiology, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Thalia Pacheco-Fernandez
- Departments of Pathology and Microbiology, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Parna Bhattacharya
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Timur Oljuskin
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Ranadhir Dey
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Sreenivas Gannavaram
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Abhay R Satoskar
- Departments of Pathology and Microbiology, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Hira L Nakhasi
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
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Melo MBG, Cunha LCS, Barreto CSP, de Oliveira Mendonça FA, Santos MLB, Sacramento D, de Jesus AR, Almeida RP, Dos Santos PL. Leishmania infantum (syn. L. chagasi) parasites affect the release of soluble CD14 by infected macrophages. Parasitol Res 2021; 120:3325-3330. [PMID: 34351491 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-021-07258-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Functionally, cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14) is a co-receptor of the complex formed by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and LPS-binding protein expressed on the membrane of a variety of cells. However, CD14 can be shed from the cell membrane into the circulation as soluble CD14 (sCD14) upon cell activation. Previously, our group reported that elevated sCD14 serum levels were associated with the clinical and laboratory findings in the context of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), but not in the context of LPS stimulation or bacterial infection. In the present study, we investigated the secretion dynamics of sCD14 in the context of Leishmania infantum (syn. L. chagasi) in vitro infection. Macrophages from treated VL patients and delayed-type hypersensitivity positive (DTH+) subjects were infected with L. infantum (syn. L. chagasi) promastigotes, and the infection index was evaluated (number of amastigotes per 100 infected macrophages). Additionally, the levels of sCD14, Inteleukin (IL)10, IL-6 and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were measured in the culture supernatants using the Luminex assay. Interestingly, the release of sCD14 was inversely correlated with the L. infantum (syn. L. chagasi) infection index. Of note, the release of sCD14 was upregulated and downregulated in the context of infected macrophages from DTH+ subjects and treated VL patients, respectively. Additionally, we also observed that the levels of sCD14 in the culture supernatants were positively correlated with the levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10. Therefore, our data suggest that macrophages from treated VL patients and DTH+ subjects respond differently to L. infantum (syn. L. chagasi) infection in the context of the release of sCD14; therefore, the release of sCD14 may be associated with the outcome of VL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Barreto Gomes Melo
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, 49060-100, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brasil
| | - Luana Celina Seraphim Cunha
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, 49060-100, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brasil
| | - Cárcia Santana Passos Barreto
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, 49060-100, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brasil
| | | | - Micheli Luize Barbosa Santos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, 49060-100, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brasil
| | - Danielle Sacramento
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, 49060-100, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brasil
| | - Amélia Ribeiro de Jesus
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, 49060-100, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brasil.,Instituto de Investigação Em Imunologia, 05403-900, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Roque Pacheco Almeida
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, 49060-100, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brasil.,Instituto de Investigação Em Imunologia, 05403-900, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Priscila Lima Dos Santos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, 49060-100, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brasil.
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Chanyalew M, Abebe M, Endale B, Girma S, Tasew G, Bobosha K, Zewide M, Howe R, van Zandbergen G, Ritter U, Gadisa E, Aseffa A, Laskay T. Enhanced activation of blood neutrophils and monocytes in patients with Ethiopian localized cutaneous leishmaniasis in response to Leishmania aethiopica Neutrophil activation in Ethiopian cutaneous leishmaniasis. Acta Trop 2021; 220:105967. [PMID: 34029532 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.105967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies suggest an essential role of the innate immune effector cells neutrophils and monocytes in protection or disease progression in the early course of Leishmania infection. In areas endemic for cutaneous leishmaniasis in Ethiopia most individuals are exposed to bites of infected sandflies. Still only a minor ratio of the inhabitants develops symptomatic disease. Neutrophils, followed by monocytes, are the first cells to be recruited to the site of Leishmania infection, the initial response of neutrophils to parasites appears to be crucial for the protective response and disease outcome. Our working hypothesis is that neutrophils and/or monocytes in localized cutaneous leishmaniasis (LCL) patients may have defects in function of innate immune cell that contribute to failure to parasite clearance that lead to establishment of infection. The response of cells in Ethiopian LCL patients and healthy controls to Leishmania aethiopica and to the Toll like receptor (TLR) agonists lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and macrophage activating lipopeptide-2 (MALP-2) was investigated by assessing the cell surface expression of CD62L (on neutrophil and monocyte) and CD66b (only on neutrophil), as well as reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by using whole blood-based assays in vitro. No impaired response of neutrophils and monocytes to the microbial constituents LPS and MALP-2 was observed. Neutrophils and monocytes from LCL patients responded stronger to Leishmania aethiopica in the applied whole blood assays than cells from healthy individuals. These experimental findings do not support the hypothesis regarding a possible dysfunction of neutrophils and monocytes in cutaneous leishmaniasis. On the contrary, these cells react stronger in LCL patients as compared to healthy controls. The differential response to L. aethiopica observed between LCL patients and healthy controls have the potential to serve as biomarker to develop FACS based diagnostic/ prognostic techniques for LCL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Menberework Chanyalew
- Research and Innovation Division, Armauer Hansen Research Institute, P.O. Box 1005, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
| | - Markos Abebe
- Research and Innovation Division, Armauer Hansen Research Institute, P.O. Box 1005, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Birtukan Endale
- Research and Innovation Division, Armauer Hansen Research Institute, P.O. Box 1005, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Selfu Girma
- Research and Innovation Division, Armauer Hansen Research Institute, P.O. Box 1005, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Geremew Tasew
- Research and Innovation Division, Armauer Hansen Research Institute, P.O. Box 1005, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Leishmaniasis Research Laboratory, Ethiopian Public Health Institute, P.O. Box 1242, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Kidist Bobosha
- Research and Innovation Division, Armauer Hansen Research Institute, P.O. Box 1005, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Martha Zewide
- Research and Innovation Division, Armauer Hansen Research Institute, P.O. Box 1005, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
| | - Rawleigh Howe
- Research and Innovation Division, Armauer Hansen Research Institute, P.O. Box 1005, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Ger van Zandbergen
- Division of Immunology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Federal Institute for Vaccines and Biomedicines, Langen D-63225, Germany.
| | - Uwe Ritter
- Regensburg Center for Interventional Immunology (RCI), Institute of Immunology, University Medical Center Regensburg, University of Regensburg, Regensburg D-93053, Germany.
| | - Endalamaw Gadisa
- Research and Innovation Division, Armauer Hansen Research Institute, P.O. Box 1005, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Abraham Aseffa
- Research and Innovation Division, Armauer Hansen Research Institute, P.O. Box 1005, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Tamás Laskay
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck D-23560, Germany.
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Preclinical validation of a live attenuated dermotropic Leishmania vaccine against vector transmitted fatal visceral leishmaniasis. Commun Biol 2021; 4:929. [PMID: 34330999 PMCID: PMC8324786 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02446-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL), a potentially fatal disease is caused by Leishmania donovani parasites with no vaccine available. Here we produced a dermotropic live attenuated centrin gene deleted Leishmania major (LmCen−/−) vaccine under Good Laboratory Practices and demonstrated that a single intradermal injection confers robust and durable protection against lethal VL transmitted naturally via bites of L. donovani-infected sand flies and prevents mortality. Surprisingly, immunogenicity characteristics of LmCen−/− parasites revealed activation of common immune pathways like L. major wild type parasites. Spleen cells from LmCen−/− immunized and L. donovani challenged hamsters produced significantly higher Th1-associated cytokines including IFN-γ, TNF-α, and reduced expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokines like IL-10, IL-21, compared to non-immunized challenged animals. PBMCs, isolated from healthy people from non-endemic region, upon LmCen−/− infection also induced more IFN-γ compared to IL-10, consistent with our immunogenicity data in LmCen−/− immunized hamsters. This study demonstrates that the LmCen−/− parasites are safe and efficacious against VL and is a strong candidate vaccine to be tested in a human clinical trial. Karmakar et al produced a dermotropic, live attenuated centrin gene-deleted Leishmania major (LmCen−/−) vaccine against Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL). They demonstrated in hamsters that a single intradermal injection confers robust and durable protection against lethal VL that is transmitted naturally via bites of L. donovani-infected sand flies.
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Lakhal-Naouar I, Mukbel R, DeFraites RF, Mody RM, Massoud LN, Shaw D, Co EM, Sherwood JE, Kamhawi S, Aronson NE. The human immune response to saliva of Phlebotomus alexandri, the vector of visceral leishmaniasis in Iraq, and its relationship to sand fly exposure and infection. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009378. [PMID: 34081700 PMCID: PMC8174707 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Sand fly saliva exposure plays an important role in immunity against leishmaniasis where it has mostly been associated with protection. Phlebotomus (Ph.) alexandri transmits Leishmania (L.) infantum, the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), in Iraq. Our group recently demonstrated that 20% of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) deployers had asymptomatic VL (AVL) indicative of prior infection by the parasite L. infantum. Little is known about Ph. alexandri saliva, and the human immune response to it has never been investigated. Here, we characterize the humoral and cellular immune response to vector saliva in OIF deployers naturally exposed to bites of Ph. alexandri and characterize their immunological profiles in association to AVL. Methodology/Principal findings The humoral response to Ph. alexandri salivary gland homogenate (SGH) showed that 64% of 200 OIF deployers developed an antibody response. To assess the cellular immune response to saliva, we selected a subcohort of subjects based on their post-travel (median 4 months; range 1–22 months) antibody response (SGH Antibody [Ab] positive or negative) as well as their AVL status; ten never-traveled controls were also included. Banked peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), collected ~10 years after end of deployment, were stimulated with SGH for 96 hours. The levels of IFN- γ, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13 and IL-17 were determined by ELISA. Our findings indicate that OIF deployers mounted a cellular response to SGH where the anti-SGH+ asymptomatic subjects developed the highest cytokine levels. Further, stimulation with SGH produced a mixture of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Contrary to our hypothesis, we observed no correlation between the cellular immune response to Ph. alexandri SGH and prevention from asymptomatic infection with L. infantum. Conclusions/Significance As we found, although all infected deployers demonstrated persistent disease control years after deployment, this did not correlate with anti-saliva systemic cellular response. More exposure to this vector may facilitate transmission of the L. infantum parasite. Since exposure to saliva of Ph. alexandri may alter the human immune response to bites of this vector, this parameter should be taken into consideration when considering the VL risk. This is the first report of human immune responses to Phlebotomus alexandri. Phlebotomus alexandri is a sand fly found in Southwest Asia and is the vector for transmission of the parasite Leishmania infantum, agent of visceral leishmaniasis. During the bite of this sand fly, a small amount of saliva is injected into the skin. In this study, we report the human immune response to Phlebotomus alexandri saliva. We found that 64% of people who traveled to endemic Iraq developed antibodies directed toward this sand fly’s saliva. This suggests that saliva is very immunogenic and that anti-saliva immune responses could be a good indicator of vector exposure. Additionally, we studied the cellular immune responses in saliva-stimulated white blood cells and found a Th2 biased cytokine profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ines Lakhal-Naouar
- Infectious Diseases Division, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Rami Mukbel
- Department of Basic Veterinary Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Robert F. DeFraites
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Rupal M. Mody
- Infectious Diseases Service, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Lina N. Massoud
- Department of Basic Veterinary Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Dutchabong Shaw
- Infectious Diseases Division, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Edgie M. Co
- Infectious Diseases Service, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey E. Sherwood
- Infectious Diseases Service, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Shaden Kamhawi
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Naomi E. Aronson
- Infectious Diseases Division, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
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Rostami MN, Khamesipour A. Potential biomarkers of immune protection in human leishmaniasis. Med Microbiol Immunol 2021; 210:81-100. [PMID: 33934238 PMCID: PMC8088758 DOI: 10.1007/s00430-021-00703-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne neglected tropical disease endemic in over 100 countries around the world. Available control measures are not always successful, therapeutic options are limited, and there is no vaccine available against human leishmaniasis, although several candidate antigens have been evaluated over the last decades. Plenty of studies have aimed to evaluate the immune response development and a diverse range of host immune factors have been described to be associated with protection or disease progression in leishmaniasis; however, to date, no comprehensive biomarker(s) have been identified as surrogate marker of protection or exacerbation, and lack of enough information remains a barrier for vaccine development. Most of the current understanding of the role of different markers of immune response in leishmaniasis has been collected from experimental animal models. Although the data generated from the animal models are crucial, it might not always be extrapolated to humans. Here, we briefly review the events during Leishmania invasion of host cells and the immune responses induced against Leishmania in animal models and humans and their potential role as a biomarker of protection against human leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ali Khamesipour
- Center for Research and Training in Skin Diseases and Leprosy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 14155-6383, Tehran, Iran.
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