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Müller S, Kröger C, Schultze JL, Aschenbrenner AC. Whole blood stimulation as a tool for studying the human immune system. Eur J Immunol 2024; 54:e2350519. [PMID: 38103010 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202350519] [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: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
The human immune system is best accessible via tissues and organs not requiring major surgical intervention, such as blood. In many circumstances, circulating immune cells correlate with an individual's health state and give insight into physiological and pathophysiological processes. Stimulating whole blood ex vivo is a powerful tool to investigate immune responses. In the context of clinical research, the applications of whole blood stimulation include host immunity, disease characterization, diagnosis, treatment, and drug development. Here, we summarize different setups and readouts of whole blood assays and discuss applications for preclinical research and clinical practice. Finally, we propose combining whole blood stimulation with high-throughput technologies, such as single-cell RNA-sequencing, to comprehensively analyze the human immune system for the identification of biomarkers, therapeutic interventions as well as companion diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Müller
- Systems Medicine, Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE) e.V., Bonn, Germany
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Genomics & Immunoregulation, Life and Medical Sciences (LIMES) Institute, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Charlotte Kröger
- Systems Medicine, Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE) e.V., Bonn, Germany
- Genomics & Immunoregulation, Life and Medical Sciences (LIMES) Institute, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Joachim L Schultze
- Systems Medicine, Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE) e.V., Bonn, Germany
- Genomics & Immunoregulation, Life and Medical Sciences (LIMES) Institute, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- PRECISE Platform for Single Cell Genomics and Epigenomics, DZNE and University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Anna C Aschenbrenner
- Systems Medicine, Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE) e.V., Bonn, Germany
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Shlash SA, Alzubaidi ZF, Saleh HA. Cytokine production in Ancylostoma duodenale infection. J Med Life 2022; 15:479-482. [PMID: 35646178 PMCID: PMC9126450 DOI: 10.25122/jml-2021-0383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytokine response to Ancylostoma duodenale (A. duodenale) infection was measured after starting treatments with piperazine. This study aims to determine the impact of cytokine production after infection with A. duodenale before and after treatment with piperazine. Blood and stool samples of 50 patients with A. duodenale infection and 28 healthy individuals (control) were collected. In this study, IFNγ, IL-5, IL-12, and IL-13 in serum (using ELISA-based methods) were measured. Stool samples were examined using the Kato-Katz technique to detect A. duodenale parasites. Blood and stool samples were analyzed 14 days after starting piperazine treatment for A. duodenale infection. The medium concentration of IFNγ, IL-5, IL-12, and IL-13 in the serum samples with A. duodenale infection is higher than that of the control group. IFNγ, IL-5, IL-12, and IL-13 levels were significantly higher in the infected individuals (10.5±7.4 pg/ml, 14.6±5.1 pg/ml, 8.5±3.2 pg/ml and 13.6±7.5 pg/ml respectively) than the control group (4.7±2.4 pg/ml, 7.8±4.06 pg/ml, 6.3±3.4 pg/ml and 3.5±2.7 pg/ml respectively). Also, piperazine treatment can significantly reduce cytokines levels (IFN-γ: P=0.043, IL-5: P=0.02, and IL-12, p=0.001). This study shows that piperazine treatment can reduce cytokines profiles in patients with A. duodenale infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zubaida Falih Alzubaidi
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Kufa, Kufa, Iraq,Corresponding Author: Zubaida Falih Alzubaidi, Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Kufa, Kufa, Iraq. E-mail:
| | - Huda Ali Saleh
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Kufa, Kufa, Iraq
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Amoani B, Adu B, Frempong MT, Sarkodie-Addo T, Victor Nuvor S, Abu EK, Harrison LM, Cappello M, Gyan B, Wilson MD. Cytokine profiles of Necator americanus and Plasmodium falciparum co-infected patients in rural Ghana. Cytokine X 2019; 1:100014. [PMID: 33604551 PMCID: PMC7885886 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytox.2019.100014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Revised: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Co-infection of hookworm with P. falciparum modulates blood parasitemia levels. Cytokine levels were higher in the parasite infected individuals. Serum eotaxin level correlate negatively with hookworm intensity. Deworming drug treatment alters cytokine profiles in hookworm infected subjects.
Background Necator americanus (hookworm) and Plasmodium falciparum co-infections are common in endemic communities in rural Ghana. Human immune responses to P. falciparum and hookworm are complex, and the dynamics of cytokine levels and effector mediators are poorly understood. This study aimed to determine the effect of hookworm and P. falciparum co-infection on parasite intensities and cytokine profiles in individuals before and after deworming drug treatment. Methods In this cross-sectional study conducted in the Kintampo North Municipality of Ghana blood and stool samples were analyzed from 984 participants (aged 4–88 years). Stool samples were collected at baseline from all participants and examined for the presence of hookworm using the Kato-Katz method. Blood and stool samples were analysed again two weeks after albendazole treatment of hookworm infected individuals. Malaria parasitaemia was estimated by light microscopy and P. falciparum-specific 18S rRNA gene PCR method used for species identification. Serum levels of circulating cytokines interleukins -5, -10 (IL-5, IL-10), tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α, and eotaxin [CCL11] were determined using ELISA based methods. Results Malaria parasitaemia was significantly reduced in hookworm and P. falciparum co-infected individuals (p = 0.0018) while hookworm intensity was similar between groups. IL-10 level was significantly higher in the co-infected individuals (39.9 ± 12.2 pg/ml) compared to the single infected or the uninfected group (10.7 ± 7.6 mg/ml). IL-5 level was higher in the hookworm only infected individual. TNF-α levels were higher in all infected groups compared to the uninfected controls. CCL11 levels were significantly higher in subjects infected with hookworm only or co-infected with hookworm and P. falciparum. There was a significantly negative correlation (rs = −0.39, p = 0.021) between hookworm eggs per gram of stool and CCL11 levels in the group mono-infected with hookworm which was not affected by treatment. Treatment with albendazole led to a significant reduction of TNF-α (p = 0.041), IL-5 (p = 0.01) and IL-10 (p = 0.001) levels. Conclusion This study shows that in the absence of other helminths, co-infection of hookworm with P. falciparum may modulate blood parasitemia levels and cytokine responses. Data also show that deworming drug treatment alters these cytokine profiles in hookworm infected subjects. Future studies to elucidate the potential mechanisms underlying these observations should include an assessment of parasite specific cellular responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Amoani
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.,Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.,Molecular Medicine Department, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana
| | - Bright Adu
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Margaret T Frempong
- Molecular Medicine Department, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana
| | - Tracy Sarkodie-Addo
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Samuel Victor Nuvor
- Department of Microbiology, College of Health Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Emmanuel Kwasi Abu
- Department of Optometry, College of Health Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Lisa M Harrison
- Partnerships for Global Health, Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Michael Cappello
- Partnerships for Global Health, Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Ben Gyan
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Michael D Wilson
- Parasitology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
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Eze IC, Esse C, Bassa FK, Koné S, Acka F, Yao L, Imboden M, Jaeger FN, Schindler C, Dosso M, Laubhouet-Koffi V, Kouassi D, N'Goran EK, Utzinger J, Bonfoh B, Probst-Hensch N. Côte d'Ivoire Dual Burden of Disease (CoDuBu): Study Protocol to Investigate the Co-occurrence of Chronic Infections and Noncommunicable Diseases in Rural Settings of Epidemiological Transition. JMIR Res Protoc 2017; 6:e210. [PMID: 29079553 PMCID: PMC5681722 DOI: 10.2196/resprot.8599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2017] [Revised: 09/29/2017] [Accepted: 09/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individual-level concomitance of infectious diseases and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) is poorly studied, despite the reality of this dual disease burden for many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). OBJECTIVE This study protocol describes the implementation of a cohort and biobank aiming for a better understanding of interrelation of helminth and Plasmodium infections with NCD phenotypes like metabolic syndrome, hypertension, and diabetes. METHODS A baseline cross-sectional population-based survey was conducted over one year, in the Taabo health and demographic surveillance system (HDSS) in south-central Côte d'Ivoire. We randomly identified 1020 consenting participants aged ≥18 years in three communities (Taabo-Cité, Amani-Ménou, and Tokohiri) reflecting varying stages of epidemiological transition. Participants underwent health examinations consisting of NCD phenotyping (anthropometry, blood pressure, renal function, glycemia, and lipids) and infectious disease testing (infections with soil-transmitted helminths, schistosomes, and Plasmodium). Individuals identified to have elevated blood pressure, glucose, lipids, or with infections were referred to the central/national health center for diagnostic confirmation and treatment. Aliquots of urine, stool, and venous blood were stored in a biobank for future exposome/phenome research. In-person interviews on sociodemographic attributes, risk factors for infectious diseases and NCDs, medication, vaccinations, and health care were also conducted. Appropriate statistical techniques will be applied in exploring the concomitance of infectious diseases and NCDs and their determinants. Participants' consent for follow-up contact was obtained. RESULTS Key results from this baseline study, which will be published in peer-reviewed literature, will provide information on the prevalence and co-occurrence of infectious diseases, NCDs, and their risk factors. The Taabo HDSS consists of rural and somewhat more urbanized areas, allowing for comparative studies at different levels of epidemiological transition. An HDSS setting is ideal as a basis for longitudinal studies since their sustainable field work teams hold close contact with the local population. CONCLUSIONS The collaboration between research institutions, public health organizations, health care providers, and staff from the Taabo HDSS in this study assures that the synthesized evidence will feed into health policy towards integrated infectious disease-NCD management. The preparation of health systems for the dual burden of disease is pressing in low- and middle-income countries. The established biobank will strengthen the local research capacity and offer opportunities for biomarker studies to deepen the understanding of the cross-talk between infectious diseases and NCDs. TRIAL REGISTRATION International Standard Randomized Controlled Trials Number (ISRCTN): 87099939; http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN87099939 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6uLEs1EsX).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ikenna C Eze
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Clémence Esse
- Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.,Institut d'Ethnosociologie, Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Fidèle K Bassa
- Unite de Formation et de Recherche Biosciences, Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Siaka Koné
- Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Felix Acka
- Institut National de Santé Publique, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Loukou Yao
- Ligue Ivoirienne contre l'Hypertension Artérielle et les Maladies Cardiovasculaire, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Medea Imboden
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Fabienne N Jaeger
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christian Schindler
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Mireille Dosso
- Institut Pasteur de Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Véronique Laubhouet-Koffi
- Ligue Ivoirienne contre l'Hypertension Artérielle et les Maladies Cardiovasculaire, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Dinard Kouassi
- Institut National de Santé Publique, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Eliézer K N'Goran
- Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.,Unite de Formation et de Recherche Biosciences, Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Jürg Utzinger
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Bassirou Bonfoh
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Nicole Probst-Hensch
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Beenakker KGM, Koopman JJE, van Bodegom D, Kuningas M, Slagboom PE, Meij JJ, Maier AB, Westendorp RGJ. Variants of the IL-10 gene associate with muscle strength in elderly from rural Africa: a candidate gene study. Aging Cell 2014; 13:862-8. [PMID: 25040424 PMCID: PMC4331746 DOI: 10.1111/acel.12244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/07/2014] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, it has been shown that the capacity of the innate immune system to produce cytokines relates to skeletal muscle mass and strength in older persons. The interleukin-10 (IL-10) gene regulates the production capacities of IL-10 and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). In rural Ghana, IL-10 gene variants associated with different production capacities of IL-10 and TNF-α are enriched compared with Caucasian populations. In this setting, we explored the association between these gene variants and muscle strength. Among 554 Ghanaians aged 50 years and older, we determined 20 single nucleotide polymorphisms in the IL-10 gene, production capacities of IL-10 and TNF-α in whole blood upon stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and handgrip strength as a proxy for skeletal muscle strength. We distinguished pro-inflammatory haplotypes associated with low IL-10 production capacity and anti-inflammatory haplotypes with high IL-10 production capacity. We found that distinct haplotypes of the IL-10 gene associated with handgrip strength. A pro-inflammatory haplotype with a population frequency of 43.2% was associated with higher handgrip strength (P = 0.015). An anti-inflammatory haplotype with a population frequency of 7.9% was associated with lower handgrip strength (P = 0.006). In conclusion, variants of the IL-10 gene contributing to a pro-inflammatory cytokine response associate with higher muscle strength, whereas those with anti-inflammatory response associate with lower muscle strength. Future research needs to elucidate whether these effects of variation in the IL-10 gene are exerted directly through its role in the repair of muscle tissue or indirectly through its role in the defence against infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karel G M Beenakker
- Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical CenterAlbinusdreef 2, Leiden, 2333 ZA, The Netherlands
| | - Jacob J E Koopman
- Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical CenterAlbinusdreef 2, Leiden, 2333 ZA, The Netherlands
- Leyden Academy on Vitality and AgeingRijnsburgerweg 10, Leiden, 2333 AA, The Netherlands
| | - David van Bodegom
- Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical CenterAlbinusdreef 2, Leiden, 2333 ZA, The Netherlands
- Leyden Academy on Vitality and AgeingRijnsburgerweg 10, Leiden, 2333 AA, The Netherlands
| | - Maris Kuningas
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus Medical CenterDr Molewaterplein 50, Rotterdam, 3015 GE, The Netherlands
| | - Pieternella E Slagboom
- Department of Medical Statistics, Molecular Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical CenterAlbinusdreef 2, Leiden, 2333 ZA, The Netherlands
| | - Johannes J Meij
- Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical CenterAlbinusdreef 2, Leiden, 2333 ZA, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Innovation, Amphia HospitalsMolengracht 21, Breda, 4818 CK, The Netherlands
| | - Andrea B Maier
- Section of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, VU University Medical CenterDe Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, 1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - Rudi G J Westendorp
- Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical CenterAlbinusdreef 2, Leiden, 2333 ZA, The Netherlands
- Leyden Academy on Vitality and AgeingRijnsburgerweg 10, Leiden, 2333 AA, The Netherlands
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Koopman JJE, van Bodegom D, Westendorp RGJ, Jukema JW. Scarcity of atrial fibrillation in a traditional African population: a community-based study. BMC Cardiovasc Disord 2014; 14:87. [PMID: 25037974 PMCID: PMC4107622 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2261-14-87] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2013] [Accepted: 07/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In western societies, atrial fibrillation is an increasingly common finding among the elderly. Established risk factors of atrial fibrillation include obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Atrial fibrillation has almost exclusively been studied in western populations where these risk factors are widely present. Therefore, we studied the epidemiology of atrial fibrillation in a traditional African community. Methods In rural Ghana, among 924 individuals aged 50 years and older, we recorded electrocardiograms to detect atrial fibrillation. As established risk factors, we documented waist circumference, body mass index (BMI), capillary glucose level, blood pressure, and electrocardiographic myocardial infarction. In addition, we determined circulating levels of interleukin-6 (IL6), a proinflammatory cytokine, and C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of systemic inflammation. We compared the risk factors with reference data from the USA. Results Atrial fibrillation was detected in only three cases, equalling 0.3% (95% CI 0.1–1.0%). Waist circumference, BMI, and capillary glucose levels were very low. Hypertension and myocardial infarction were uncommon. Circulating levels of IL6 were similar, but those of CRP were lower compared with the USA. Conclusion Atrial fibrillation is very scarce in this traditional African community. Its low prevalence compared with western societies can be explained by the rareness of its established risk factors, which are closely related to lifestyle, and by possible unmeasured differences in other risk factors or genetic factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob J E Koopman
- Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Postal zone C7-Q, Leiden University Medical Center, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, the Netherlands.
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7
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Faragher R, Frasca D, Remarque E, Pawelec G. Better immunity in later life: a position paper. AGE (DORDRECHT, NETHERLANDS) 2014; 36:9619. [PMID: 24532368 PMCID: PMC4082593 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-014-9619-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2013] [Accepted: 01/12/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Ageing is the greatest challenge that health-care systems will have to deal with this century. This is because a wide spectrum of pathological impairments emerge in the later part of the human life course which sharply increase mortality and reduce quality of life. Dysfunction of the immune system with advancing age is of crucial importance to the development of disability in later life and finally death. Understanding immune ageing, immunosenescence, has long been recognised as an essential prerequisite for the delivery of effective interventions which will improve late life health. Ten years ago, the ImAginE consortium undertook a broad ranging series of projects which added significantly to our understanding of how fundamental ageing mechanisms drove immune decline. In the decade which followed, abundant evidence has accumulated from nonhuman model systems that ageing results from the progressive operation of a relatively few common processes which act across the major organ systems. These advances in fundamental understanding both allow better clarification of the potential cross-system dysregulation that occurs in ageing and open new avenues for intervention. Over the course of a 2-day workshop, the original ImAginE participants have considered these issues and present some suggestions for current priority areas in immunosenescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Faragher
- />School of Pharmacy & Biomolecular Science, University of Brighton, Huxley Building, Brighton, UK
| | - Daniela Frasca
- />Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Miami, Room 3146A, Rosenstiel Medical Science Building, Miami, FL USA
| | - Edmond Remarque
- />Department of Parasitology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre, PO Box 3306, 2280 GH Rijswijk, The Netherlands
| | - Graham Pawelec
- />Tübingen Ageing and Tumour Immunology Group (TATI) Section for Transplantation Immunology and Immunohaematology ZMF, University of Tübingen, Waldhörnlestr. 22, 72072 Tübingen, Germany
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Amoah AS, Obeng BB, May L, Kruize YC, Larbi IA, Kabesch M, Wilson MD, Hartgers FC, Boakye DA, Yazdanbakhsh M. Urban-rural differences in the gene expression profiles of Ghanaian children. Genes Immun 2014; 15:313-9. [PMID: 24848931 DOI: 10.1038/gene.2014.21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2014] [Revised: 03/22/2014] [Accepted: 03/24/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies indicate that urbanization is having a pronounced effect on disease patterns in developing countries. To understand the immunological basis of this, we examined mRNA expression in whole blood of genes involved in immune activation and regulation in 151 children aged 5-13 years attending rural, urban low socioeconomic status (SES) and urban high-SES schools in Ghana. Samples were also collected to detect helminth and malaria infections. Marked differences in gene expression were observed between the rural and urban areas as well as within the urban area. The expression of both interleukin (IL)-10 and programmed cell death protein 1 increased significantly across the schools from urban high SES to urban low SES to rural (P-trend <0.001). Although IL-10 gene expression was significantly elevated in the rural compared with the urban schools (P<0.001), this was not associated with parasitic infection. Significant differences in the expression of toll-like receptors (TLRs) and their signaling genes were seen between the two urban schools. Genetic differences could not fully account for the gene expression profiles in the different groups as shown by analysis of IL-10, TLR-2 and TLR-4 gene polymorphisms. Immune gene expression patterns are strongly influenced by environmental determinants and may underlie the effects of urbanization seen on health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- A S Amoah
- 1] Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Accra, Ghana [2] Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - B B Obeng
- 1] Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Accra, Ghana [2] Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - L May
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Y C Kruize
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - I A Larbi
- Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Accra, Ghana
| | - M Kabesch
- Department of Pediatric Pneumology and Allergy, KUNO University Children's Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - M D Wilson
- Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Accra, Ghana
| | - F C Hartgers
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - D A Boakye
- Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Accra, Ghana
| | - M Yazdanbakhsh
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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9
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Eriksson UK, van Bodegom D, May L, Boef AGC, Westendorp RGJ. Low C-reactive protein levels in a traditional West-African population living in a malaria endemic area. PLoS One 2013; 8:e70076. [PMID: 23922912 PMCID: PMC3724900 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0070076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2013] [Accepted: 06/14/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background C-reactive protein (CRP) levels are reported to be elevated in populations of African descent living in affluent environments compared to populations of European ancestry. However, the natural history of CRP levels in populations of African descent living under adverse environments remains largely unknown. Methods CRP levels were measured with a high sensitivity assay in 624 apparently healthy individuals who contributed blood as part of a study on innate immune responsiveness in a traditional Ghanaian population living under adverse environmental conditions in a malaria endemic area. As a comparison, we included CRP measurements from 2931 apparently healthy individuals from the Dutch population that were included in the same batch of CRP analyses. Associations between CRP and body mass index (BMI), immune responsiveness, and P. falciparum parasitaemia were investigated. Results In an age- and sex-adjusted model, CRP levels were 0.54 mg/L lower in the Ghanaian compared to the Dutch cohort (1.52 vs. 0.98 mg/L, p<0.001). When accounting for the substantially higher average BMI in the Dutch compared to the Ghanaians (25.6 vs. 18.4 kg/m2) the difference in CRP levels disappeared. BMI associated positively with CRP in the Dutch but not in the Ghanaians. In individuals with an acute phase response, CRP levels were higher in the Ghanaian compared to the Dutch cohort (24.6 vs. 17.3 mg/L, p = 0.04). Levels of CRP were positively related to immune responsiveness and P. falciparum parasitaemia (all p<0.001) among Ghanaians. Conclusions Our study demonstrates that West-Africans do not exhibit an inherently high inflammatory state. The role of genes, environment and gene-environment interaction in explaining reports of elevated CRP levels in populations of African ancestry when compared to other ethnicities living in affluent environments thus merits further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrika K Eriksson
- Department of Gerontology & Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
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Kollmann TR. Variation between Populations in the Innate Immune Response to Vaccine Adjuvants. Front Immunol 2013; 4:81. [PMID: 23565115 PMCID: PMC3613898 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2013.00081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2013] [Accepted: 03/18/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The success of the World Health Organization recommended “Expanded Program of Immunization” (EPI) and similar regional or national programs has been astounding. However, infectious threats currently not covered by these programs continue to infect millions of infants around the world. Furthermore, many infants do not receive existing vaccines either on time or for the required number of doses to provide optimal protection. Nor do all infants around the world develop the same protective immune response to the same vaccine. As a result approximately three million infants die every year from vaccine preventable infections. To tackle these issues, new vaccines need to be developed as well as existing ones made easier to administer. This requires identification of age-optimized vaccine schedules and formulations. In order to be most effective this approach will need to take population-based differences in response to vaccines and adjuvants into account. This review summarizes what is currently known about differences between populations around the world in the innate immune response to existing as well as new and promising vaccine adjuvants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias R Kollmann
- Division of Infectious and Immunological Diseases, Department of Paediatrics, University of British Columbia Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Koopman JJE, van Bodegom D, Jukema JW, Westendorp RGJ. Risk of cardiovascular disease in a traditional African population with a high infectious load: a population-based study. PLoS One 2012; 7:e46855. [PMID: 23071653 PMCID: PMC3469578 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0046855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2012] [Accepted: 09/10/2012] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background To test the inflammatory origin of cardiovascular disease, as opposed to its origin in western lifestyle. Population-based assessment of the prevalences of cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular disease in an inflammation-prone African population, including electrocardiography and ankle-arm index measurement. Comparison with known prevalences in American and European societies. Methodology/Principal Findings Traditional population in rural Ghana, characterised by adverse environmental conditions and a high infectious load. Population-based sample of 924 individuals aged 50 years and older. Median values for cardiovascular risk factors, including waist circumference, BMI, blood pressure, and markers of glucose and lipid metabolism and inflammation. Prevalence of myocardial infarction detected by electrocardiography and prevalence of peripheral arterial disease detected by ankle-arm index. When compared to western societies, we found the Ghanaians to have more proinflammatory profiles and less cardiovascular risk factors, including obesity, dysglycaemia, dyslipidaemia, and hypertension. Prevalences of cardiovascular disease were also lower. Definite myocardial infarction was present in 1.2% (95%CI: 0.6 to 2.4%). Peripheral arterial disease was present in 2.8% (95%CI: 1.9 to 4.1%). Conclusions/Significance Taken together, our data indicate that for the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease inflammatory processes alone do not suffice and additional factors, probably lifestyle-related, are mandatory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob J E Koopman
- Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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