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Berry SPDG, Honkpèhedji YJ, Ludwig E, Mahmoudou S, Prodjinotho UF, Adamou R, Nouatin OP, Adégbitè BR, Dejon-Agobe JC, Mba RB, Maloum M, Nkoma AMM, Zinsou JF, Luty AJF, Esen M, Adégnika AA, Prazeres da Costa C. Impact of helminth infections during pregnancy on maternal and newborn Vitamin D and on birth outcomes. Sci Rep 2024; 14:14845. [PMID: 38937587 PMCID: PMC11211496 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65232-9] [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: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Poor birth outcomes in low- and middle income countries are associated with maternal vitamin D deficiency and chronic helminth infections. Here, we investigated whether maternal Schistosoma haematobium affects maternal or cord vitamin D status as well as birth outcomes. In a prospective cross-sectional study of pregnant women conducted in Lambaréné, Gabon, we diagnosed maternal parasitic infections in blood, urine and stool. At delivery we measured vitamin D in maternal and cord blood. S. haematobium, soil-transmitted helminths, and microfilariae were found at prevalences of 30.2%, 13.0%, and 8.8%, respectively. Insufficient vitamin D and calcium levels were found in 28% and 15% of mothers, and in 11.5% and 1.5% of newborns. Mothers with adequate vitamin D had lower risk of low birthweight babies (aOR = 0.11, 95% CI 0.02-0.52, p = 0.01), whilst offspring of primipars had low cord vitamin D levels, and low vitamin D levels increased the risk of maternal inflammation. Maternal filariasis was associated with low calcium levels, but other helminth infections affected neither vitamin D nor calcium levels in either mothers or newborns. Healthy birth outcomes require maintenance of adequate vitamin D and calcium levels. Chronic maternal helminth infections do not disrupt those levels in a semi-rural setting in sub-Saharan Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sèyigbéna P Déo-Gracias Berry
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, TUM School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Trogerstrasse 30, 81675, Munich, Germany
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Lambaréné, Gabon
- Center for Global Health, TUM School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Yabo Josiane Honkpèhedji
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Lambaréné, Gabon
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Institut Für Tropenmedizin, Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Fondation Pour La Recherche Scientifique (FORS), Cotonou, Benin
| | - Esther Ludwig
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, TUM School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Trogerstrasse 30, 81675, Munich, Germany
- Center for Global Health, TUM School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | | | - Ulrich Fabien Prodjinotho
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, TUM School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Trogerstrasse 30, 81675, Munich, Germany
- Center for Global Health, TUM School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Rafiou Adamou
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Lambaréné, Gabon
| | - Odilon P Nouatin
- Institut de Recherche Clinique du Bénin (IRCB), Abomey-Calavi, Benin
| | - Bayode R Adégbitè
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Lambaréné, Gabon
- Institut Für Tropenmedizin, Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Jean Claude Dejon-Agobe
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Lambaréné, Gabon
- Institut Für Tropenmedizin, Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Romuald Beh Mba
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Lambaréné, Gabon
| | | | | | - Jeannot Fréjus Zinsou
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Lambaréné, Gabon
- Institut Für Tropenmedizin, Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Fondation Pour La Recherche Scientifique (FORS), Cotonou, Benin
| | | | - Meral Esen
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Lambaréné, Gabon
- Institut Für Tropenmedizin, Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner site Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ayôla Akim Adégnika
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Lambaréné, Gabon
- Institut Für Tropenmedizin, Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Fondation Pour La Recherche Scientifique (FORS), Cotonou, Benin
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner site Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Clarissa Prazeres da Costa
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, TUM School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Trogerstrasse 30, 81675, Munich, Germany.
- Center for Global Health, TUM School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany.
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner site Munich, Munich, Germany.
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Lacorcia M, Kugyelka R, Spechtenhauser L, Prodjinotho UF, Hamway Y, Spangenberg T, da Costa CP. Praziquantel Reduces Maternal Mortality and Offspring Morbidity by Enhancing Anti-Helminthic Immune Responses. Front Immunol 2022; 13:878029. [PMID: 35833137 PMCID: PMC9272909 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.878029] [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: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Alongside the wide distribution throughout sub Saharan Africa of schistosomiasis, the morbidity associated with this chronic parasitic disease in endemic regions is often coupled with infection-driven immunomodulatory processes which modify inflammatory responses. Early life parasite exposure is theorized to drive immune tolerance towards cognate infection as well as bystander immune responses, beginning with in utero exposure to maternal infection. Considering that 40 million women of childbearing-age are at risk of infection worldwide, treatment with Praziquantel during pregnancy as currently recommended by WHO could have significant impact on disease outcomes in these populations. Here, we describe the effects of anthelminthic treatment on parasite-induced changes to fetomaternal cross talk in a murine model of maternal schistosomiasis. Praziquantel administration immediately prior to mating lead to clear re-awakening of maternal anti-parasite immune responses, with persistent maternal immune activation that included enhanced anti-schistosome cytokine responses. Clearance of parasites also improved capacity of dams to endure the additional pressure of pregnancy during infection. Maternal treatment also drove lasting functional alterations to immune system development of exposed offspring. Prenatal anthelminthic treatment skewed offspring immune responses towards parasite clearance and reduced morbidity during cognate infection. Maternal treatment also restored offspring protective IgE antibody responses directed against schistosome antigens, which were otherwise suppressed following exposure to untreated maternal infection. This was further associated with enhanced anti-schistosome cytokine responses from treatment-exposed offspring during infection. In the absence of cognate infection, exposed offspring further demonstrated imprinting across cellular populations. We provide further evidence that maternal treatment can restore a more normalized immune profile to such offspring exposed in utero to parasite infection, particularly in B cell populations, which may underlie improved responsiveness to cognate infection, and support the WHO recommendation of anthelminthic treatment during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Lacorcia
- Technical University of Munich (TUM), School of Medicine, Institute for Med. Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Munich, Germany
| | - Réka Kugyelka
- Technical University of Munich (TUM), School of Medicine, Institute for Med. Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Munich, Germany
| | - Lorenz Spechtenhauser
- Technical University of Munich (TUM), School of Medicine, Institute for Med. Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Munich, Germany.,Department of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Ulrich Fabien Prodjinotho
- Technical University of Munich (TUM), School of Medicine, Institute for Med. Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Munich, Germany
| | - Youssef Hamway
- Technical University of Munich (TUM), School of Medicine, Institute for Med. Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Spangenberg
- Global Health Institute of Merck, Ares Trading S.A. (a subsidiary of Merck KGaA Darmstadt Germany), Eysins, Switzerland
| | - Clarissa Prazeres da Costa
- Technical University of Munich (TUM), School of Medicine, Institute for Med. Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Munich, Germany
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3
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Dejon-Agobé JC, Edoa JR, Adegnika AA, Grobusch MP. Schistosomiasis in Gabon from 2000 to 2021 - A review. Acta Trop 2022; 228:106317. [PMID: 35051384 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Schistosomiasis is a public health issue of concern in Gabon, with the disease being reported from all regions of the country. The topic has been of interest for the local researchers and physicians for over two decades. The objective of this narrative review was to provide an overview of the research activities in the area from 2000 to early 2021. METHODS We performed a narrative literature review. The search strategy was designed to get a broad overview of the different research topics on schistosomiasis and the national control programme, and included grey literature. RESULTS A total of 159 articles was screened, and 42 were included into the review in addition to the grey literature. During the past two decades, the work on schistosomiasis originated from five out of the nine provinces of the country, with diverse aspects of the disease investigated; including immunology, epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment. Several studies investigated various aspects of schistosomiasis-related morbidity in the respective study populations. The body of work demonstrates that much effort was made to understand the details of the host immune response to schistosomiasis, and the immune profile changes induced in patients treated with praziquantel. Although some MDA campaigns were conducted in the country; little, however, is known on the epidemiological situation of the disease, particularly of its distribution within the population, as well as co-infections with other parasitic diseases also endemic in the area. CONCLUSION Progress has been made over the past two decades in the understanding of schistosomiasis in the country, including disease-related morbidity and its interaction with other parasitic infections, and the immunology and epidemiology of the disease. However, for optimising control of the disease, there is a need to fine-tune these findings with detailed local epidemiological and malacological data. We call for such studies to accomplish the knowledge of schistosomiasis in the country, particularly in areas of moderate or high endemicity, and recommend this approach to comparable schistosomiasis-endemic areas elsewhere.
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Lacorcia M, Bhattacharjee S, Laubhahn K, Alhamdan F, Ram M, Muschaweckh A, Potaczek DP, Kosinska A, Garn H, Protzer U, Renz H, Prazeres da Costa C. Fetomaternal immune cross talk modifies T-cell priming through sustained changes to DC function. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2021; 148:843-857.e6. [PMID: 33684437 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2021.02.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal exposure to infections can modify immune development. These environmental disturbances during early life potentially alter the incidence of inflammatory disorders as well as priming of immune responses. Infection with the helminth Schistosoma mansoni is widely studied for its ability to alter immune responsiveness and is associated with variations in coinfection, allergy, and vaccine efficacy in endemic populations. OBJECTIVE Exposure to maternal schistosomiasis during early life, even without transmission of infection, can result in priming effects on offspring immune responses to bystander antigenic challenges as related to allergic responsiveness and vaccination, with this article seeking to further clarify the effects and underlying immunologic imprinting. METHODS Here, we have combined a model of chronic maternal schistosomiasis infection with a thorough analysis of subsequent offspring immune responses to allergy and vaccination models, including viral challenge and steady-state changes to immune cell compartments. RESULTS We have demonstrated that maternal schistosomiasis alters CD4+ responses during allergic sensitization and challenge in a skewed IL-4/B-cell-dominant response to antigenic challenge associated with limited inflammatory response. Beyond that, we have uncovered previously unidentified alterations to CD8+ T-cell responses during immunization that are dependent on vaccine formulation and have functional impact on the efficacy of vaccination against viral infection in a murine hepatitis B virus model. CONCLUSION In addition to steady-state modifications to CD4+ T-cell polarization and B-cell priming, we have traced these modified CD8+ responses to an altered dendritic cell phenotype sustained into adulthood, providing evidence for complex priming effects imparted by infection via fetomaternal cross talk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Lacorcia
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Sonakshi Bhattacharjee
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Kristina Laubhahn
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany; Pediatric Allergology, Department of Pediatrics, Dr von Hauner Children's Hospital, University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Germany; German Center for Lung Research, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Fahd Alhamdan
- Biochemical Pharmacological Center, Translational Inflammation Division & Core Facility for Single Cell Multiomics, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Marija Ram
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Andreas Muschaweckh
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Daniel P Potaczek
- Biochemical Pharmacological Center, Translational Inflammation Division & Core Facility for Single Cell Multiomics, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Anna Kosinska
- Institute for Virology Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Holger Garn
- Biochemical Pharmacological Center, Translational Inflammation Division & Core Facility for Single Cell Multiomics, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Ulrike Protzer
- Institute for Virology Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Harald Renz
- Biochemical Pharmacological Center, Translational Inflammation Division & Core Facility for Single Cell Multiomics, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Clarissa Prazeres da Costa
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
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5
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Cooper PJ, Chis Ster I, Chico ME, Vaca M, Oviedo Y, Maldonado A, Barreto ML, Platts‐Mills TAE, Strachan DP. Impact of early life geohelminths on wheeze, asthma and atopy in Ecuadorian children at 8 years. Allergy 2021; 76:2765-2775. [PMID: 33745189 PMCID: PMC8496980 DOI: 10.1111/all.14821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early-life exposures to geohelminths may protect against development of wheeze/asthma and atopy. OBJECTIVE To study the effect of maternal geohelminths and infections in children during the first 5 years on atopy, wheeze/asthma and airways reactivity/inflammation at 8 years. METHODS Birth cohort of 2404 neonates followed to 8 years in rural Ecuador. Data on wheeze/asthma were collected by questionnaire and atopy by skin prick test (SPT) reactivity to 9 allergens. We measured airways reactivity to bronchodilator, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and nasal eosinophilia. Stool samples were examined for geohelminths by microscopy. RESULTS 1933 (80.4%) children were evaluated at 8 years. Geohelminths were detected in 45.8% of mothers and 45.5% of children to 5 years. Frequencies of outcomes at 8 years were as follows: wheeze (6.6%), asthma between 5 and 8 years (7.9%), SPT (14.7%), airways reactivity (10%) and elevated FeNO (10.3%) and nasal eosinophilia (9.2%). Any maternal geohelminth was associated with reduced SPT prevalence (OR 0.72). Childhood Trichuris trichiura infections during the first 5 years were associated with reduced wheeze (OR 0.57) but greater parasite burdens with Ascaris lumbricoides at 5 years were associated with increased wheeze (OR 2.83) and asthma (OR 2.60). Associations between maternal geohelminths and wheeze/asthma were modified by atopy. Parasite-specific effects on wheeze/asthma and airways reactivity and inflammation were observed in non-atopic children. CONCLUSIONS Our data provide novel evidence for persistent effects of in utero geohelminth exposures on childhood atopy but highlight the complex nature of the relationship between geohelminths and the airways. Registered as an observational study (ISRCTN41239086).
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip J. Cooper
- Institute of Infection and Immunity St George's University of London London UK
- School of Medicine Universidad Internacional del Ecuador Quito Ecuador
- Fundacion Ecuatoriana Para La Investigacion en Salud Quito Ecuador
| | - Irina Chis Ster
- Institute of Infection and Immunity St George's University of London London UK
| | - Martha E. Chico
- Fundacion Ecuatoriana Para La Investigacion en Salud Quito Ecuador
| | - Maritza Vaca
- Fundacion Ecuatoriana Para La Investigacion en Salud Quito Ecuador
| | - Yisela Oviedo
- Fundacion Ecuatoriana Para La Investigacion en Salud Quito Ecuador
| | - Augusto Maldonado
- Fundacion Ecuatoriana Para La Investigacion en Salud Quito Ecuador
- Colegio de Ciencias de la Salud Universidad San Francisco de Quito Quito Ecuador
| | | | | | - David P. Strachan
- Population Health Research Institute St George's University of London London UK
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Martins Costa Gomes G, de Gouveia Belinelo P, Starkey MR, Murphy VE, Hansbro PM, Sly PD, Robinson PD, Karmaus W, Gibson PG, Mattes J, Collison AM. Cord blood group 2 innate lymphoid cells are associated with lung function at 6 weeks of age. Clin Transl Immunology 2021; 10:e1296. [PMID: 34306680 PMCID: PMC8292948 DOI: 10.1002/cti2.1296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Offspring born to mothers with asthma in pregnancy are known to have lower lung function which tracks with age. Human group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2) accumulate in foetal lungs, at 10‐fold higher levels compared to adult lungs. However, there are no data on foetal ILC2 numbers and the association with respiratory health outcomes such as lung function in early life. We aimed to investigate cord blood immune cell populations from babies born to mothers with asthma in pregnancy. Methods Cord blood from babies born to asthmatic mothers was collected, and cells were stained in whole cord blood. Analyses were done using traditional gating approaches and computational methodologies (t‐distributed stochastic neighbour embedding and PhenoGraph algorithms). At 6 weeks of age, the time to peak tidal expiratory flow as a percentage of total expiratory flow time (tPTEF/tE%) was determined as well as Lung Clearance Index (LCI), during quiet natural sleep. Results Of 110 eligible infants (March 2017 to November 2019), 91 were successfully immunophenotyped (82.7%). Lung function was attempted in 61 infants (67.0%), and 43 of those infants (70.5% of attempted) had technically acceptable tPTEF/tE% measurements. Thirty‐four infants (55.7% of attempted) had acceptable LCI measurements. Foetal ILC2 numbers with increased expression of chemoattractant receptor‐homologous molecule (CRTh2), characterised by two distinct analysis methodologies, were associated with poorer infant lung function at 6 weeks of age.” Conclusion Foetal immune responses may be a surrogate variable for or directly influence lung function outcomes in early life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Martins Costa Gomes
- Priority Research Centre GrowUpWell® - Hunter Medical Research Institute The University of Newcastle Newcastle NSW Australia
| | - Patricia de Gouveia Belinelo
- Priority Research Centre GrowUpWell® - Hunter Medical Research Institute The University of Newcastle Newcastle NSW Australia
| | - Malcolm R Starkey
- Priority Research Centre GrowUpWell® - Hunter Medical Research Institute The University of Newcastle Newcastle NSW Australia.,Priority Research Centre for Healthy Lungs - Hunter Medical Research Institute University of Newcastle Newcastle NSW Australia.,Department of Immunology and Pathology Central Clinical School Monash University Melbourne VIC Australia
| | - Vanessa E Murphy
- Priority Research Centre GrowUpWell® - Hunter Medical Research Institute The University of Newcastle Newcastle NSW Australia
| | - Philip M Hansbro
- Priority Research Centre for Healthy Lungs - Hunter Medical Research Institute University of Newcastle Newcastle NSW Australia.,Centenary UTS Centre for Inflammation Centenary Institute Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Peter D Sly
- Child Health Research Centre University of Queensland Brisbane QLD Australia
| | - Paul D Robinson
- Department of Respiratory Medicine The Children's Hospital at Westmead Sydney NSW Australia
| | | | - Peter G Gibson
- Priority Research Centre for Healthy Lungs - Hunter Medical Research Institute University of Newcastle Newcastle NSW Australia.,Sleep Medicine Department John Hunter Hospital Newcastle NSW Australia
| | - Joerg Mattes
- Priority Research Centre GrowUpWell® - Hunter Medical Research Institute The University of Newcastle Newcastle NSW Australia.,Paediatric Respiratory & Sleep Medicine Department John Hunter Children's Hospital Newcastle NSW Australia
| | - Adam M Collison
- Priority Research Centre GrowUpWell® - Hunter Medical Research Institute The University of Newcastle Newcastle NSW Australia
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7
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Martins Costa Gomes G, Karmaus W, Murphy VE, Gibson PG, Percival E, Hansbro PM, Starkey MR, Mattes J, Collison AM. Environmental Air Pollutants Inhaled during Pregnancy Are Associated with Altered Cord Blood Immune Cell Profiles. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18147431. [PMID: 34299892 PMCID: PMC8303567 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18147431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Air pollution exposure during pregnancy may be a risk factor for altered immune maturation in the offspring. We investigated the association between ambient air pollutants during pregnancy and cell populations in cord blood from babies born to mothers with asthma enrolled in the Breathing for Life Trial. For each patient (n = 91), daily mean ambient air pollutant levels were extracted during their entire pregnancy for sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, particulate matter <10 μm (PM10) or <2.5 μm (PM2.5), humidity, and temperature. Ninety-one cord blood samples were collected, stained, and assessed using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). Principal Component (PC) analyses of both air pollutants and cell types with linear regression were employed to define associations. Considering risk factors and correlations between PCs, only one PC from air pollutants and two from cell types were statistically significant. PCs from air pollutants were characterized by higher PM2.5 and lower SO2 levels. PCs from cell types were characterized by high numbers of CD8 T cells, low numbers of CD4 T cells, and by high numbers of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) and low numbers of myeloid DCs (mDCs). PM2.5 levels during pregnancy were significantly associated with high numbers of pDCs (p = 0.006), and SO2 with high numbers of CD8 T cells (p = 0.002) and low numbers of CD4 T cells (p = 0.011) and mDCs (p = 4.43 × 10−6) in cord blood. These data suggest that ambient SO2 and PM2.5 exposure are associated with shifts in cord blood cell types that are known to play significant roles in inflammatory respiratory disease in childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Martins Costa Gomes
- Priority Research Centre GrowUpWell®, Hunter Medical Research Institute, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia; (G.M.C.G.); (V.E.M.); (E.P.); (J.M.)
| | - Wilfried Karmaus
- School of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA;
| | - Vanessa E. Murphy
- Priority Research Centre GrowUpWell®, Hunter Medical Research Institute, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia; (G.M.C.G.); (V.E.M.); (E.P.); (J.M.)
| | - Peter G. Gibson
- Priority Research Centre for Healthy Lungs, Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia; (P.G.G.); (P.M.H.)
- Sleep Medicine Department, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, NSW 2305, Australia
| | - Elizabeth Percival
- Priority Research Centre GrowUpWell®, Hunter Medical Research Institute, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia; (G.M.C.G.); (V.E.M.); (E.P.); (J.M.)
| | - Philip M. Hansbro
- Priority Research Centre for Healthy Lungs, Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia; (P.G.G.); (P.M.H.)
- Centre for Inflammation, Centenary Institute and University of Technology Sydney, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Malcolm R. Starkey
- Department of Immunology and Pathology, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia;
| | - Joerg Mattes
- Priority Research Centre GrowUpWell®, Hunter Medical Research Institute, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia; (G.M.C.G.); (V.E.M.); (E.P.); (J.M.)
- Paediatric Respiratory & Sleep Medicine Department, John Hunter Children’s Hospital, Newcastle, NSW 2305, Australia
| | - Adam M. Collison
- Priority Research Centre GrowUpWell®, Hunter Medical Research Institute, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia; (G.M.C.G.); (V.E.M.); (E.P.); (J.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +61-2-4042-0219
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8
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Impact of Helminth Infections during Pregnancy on Vaccine Immunogenicity in Gabonese Infants. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8030381. [PMID: 32664597 PMCID: PMC7563176 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8030381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Revised: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Helminth infections are common in sub-Saharan Africa. Besides direct clinical effects, a bias towards a T helper type 2 (Th2) cell immune response is observed. The consequences of parasite infection during pregnancy for the mother and particularly for the fetus and the newborn can be severe and may include impaired immune response during acute infection and vaccination. Here, we present data of immune responses to vaccines given within the expanded program on immunization (EPI) of infants born to helminth infected or non-infected mothers. The study was conducted in Lambaréné and surroundings, Gabon. Maternal helminth infection was diagnosed microscopically using the Kato-Katz method for soil-transmitted helminths (STH), urine filtration for Schistosoma haematobium infections and the saponin-based method for filarial infections. Plasma antibody levels to different vaccine antigens were measured in mothers and their offspring by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at different timepoints. We found 42.3% of the mothers to be infected with at least one helminth species. Significantly lower anti-tetanus toxoid immunoglobulin (Ig) G was detected in the cord blood of infants born to helminth infected mothers. Following vaccination, immune responses of the infants to EPI vaccines were similar between the two groups at nine and 12 months. Even though infection with helminths is still common in pregnant women in Gabon, in our setting, there was no evidence seen for a substantial effect on infants’ immune responses to vaccines given as part of the EPI.
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