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Poveda C, Leão AC, Mancino C, Taraballi F, Chen YL, Adhikari R, Villar MJ, Kundu R, Nguyen DM, Versteeg L, Strych U, Hotez PJ, Bottazzi ME, Pollet J, Jones KM. Heterologous mRNA-protein vaccination with Tc24 induces a robust cellular immune response against Trypanosoma cruzi, characterized by an increased level of polyfunctional CD8 + T-cells. CURRENT RESEARCH IN IMMUNOLOGY 2023; 4:100066. [PMID: 37534309 PMCID: PMC10393535 DOI: 10.1016/j.crimmu.2023.100066] [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: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Tc24 is a Trypanosoma cruzi-derived flagellar protein that, when formulated with a TLR-4 agonist adjuvant, induces a balanced immune response in mice, elevating IgG2a antibody titers and IFN-γ levels. Furthermore, vaccination with the recombinant Tc24 protein can reduce parasite levels and improve survival during acute infection. Although some mRNA vaccines have been proven to elicit a stronger immune response than some protein vaccines, they have not been used against T. cruzi. This work evaluates the immunogenicity of a heterologous prime/boost vaccination regimen using protein and mRNA-based Tc24 vaccines. Mice (C57BL/6) were vaccinated twice subcutaneously, three weeks apart, with either the Tc24-C4 protein + glucopyranosyl A (GLA)-squalene emulsion, Tc24 mRNA Lipid Nanoparticles, or with heterologous protein/mRNA or mRNA/protein combinations, respectively. Two weeks after the last vaccination, mice were euthanized, spleens were collected to measure antigen-specific T-cell responses, and sera were collected to evaluate IgG titers and isotypes. Heterologous presentation of the Tc24 antigen generated antigen-specific polyfunctional CD8+ T cells, a balanced Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokine profile, and a balanced humoral response with increased serum IgG, IgG1 and IgG2c antibody responses. We conclude that heterologous vaccination using Tc24 mRNA to prime and Tc24-C4 protein to boost induces a broad and robust antigen-specific immune response that was equivalent or superior to two doses of a homologous protein vaccine, the homologous mRNA vaccine and the heterologous Tc24-C4 Protein/mRNA vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Poveda
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ana Carolina Leão
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Chiara Mancino
- Center for Musculoskeletal Regeneration, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA
- Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Francesca Taraballi
- Center for Musculoskeletal Regeneration, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA
- Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yi-Lin Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Rakesh Adhikari
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Maria Jose Villar
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Rakhi Kundu
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Duc M. Nguyen
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Leroy Versteeg
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
- Cell Biology and Immunology Group, Wageningen University & Research, the Netherlands
| | - Ulrich Strych
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Peter J. Hotez
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA
| | - Maria Elena Bottazzi
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA
| | - Jeroen Pollet
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kathryn M. Jones
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
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Borgna E, Prochetto E, Gamba JC, Marcipar I, Cabrera G. Role of myeloid-derived suppressor cells during Trypanosoma cruzi infection. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 375:117-163. [PMID: 36967151 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2022.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
Chagas disease (CD), caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is the third largest parasitic disease burden globally. Currently, more than 6 million people are infected, mainly in Latin America, but international migration has turned CD into an emerging health problem in many nonendemic countries. Despite intense research, a vaccine is still not available. A complex parasite life cycle, together with numerous immune system manipulation strategies, may account for the lack of a prophylactic or therapeutic vaccine. There is substantial experimental evidence supporting that T. cruzi acute infection generates a strong immunosuppression state that involves numerous immune populations with regulatory/suppressive capacity. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs), regulatory dendritic cells and B regulatory cells are some of the regulatory populations that have been involved in the acute immune response elicited by the parasite. The fact that, during acute infection, MDSCs increase notably in several organs, such as spleen, liver and heart, together with the observation that depletion of those cells can decrease mouse survival to 0%, strongly suggests that MDSCs play a major role during acute T. cruzi infection. Accumulating evidence gained in different settings supports the capacity of MDSCs to interact with cells from both the effector and the regulatory arms of the immune system, shaping the outcome of the response in a very wide range of scenarios that include pathological and physiological processes. In this sense, the aim of the present review is to describe the main knowledge about MDSCs acquired so far, including several crosstalk with other immune populations, which could be useful to gain insight into their role during T. cruzi infection.
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Elkoshi Z. The Binary Classification Of Chronic Diseases. J Inflamm Res 2019; 12:319-333. [PMID: 31908517 PMCID: PMC6927256 DOI: 10.2147/jir.s227279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute diseases start with an insult and end when insult disappears. If the trauma induces an immune reaction (which happens in most cases), this reaction must be terminated with some type of resolution mechanism, when the cause of the trauma ceases. Chronicity develops if insult is permanent or if the resolution mechanism is defective. Another way to reach disease chronicity is a positive feedback loop, whereby the immune reaction activates an internal, insult-like reaction. A distinction between chronic states characterized by a persistent, low suppressive effect and those characterized by a persistent, high suppressive effect of regulatory T cells (Treg), is proposed. This two-class division represents two ways to reach chronicity: (a) by maintaining inflammatory reaction long after insult disappears ("low Treg"), or (b) by suppressing inflammatory reaction prior to the disappearance of insult ("high Treg"). This two-class division may explain the strong association between certain pathogens and cancer, on one hand, and between several other pathogens and autoimmunity, on the other hand. The weak association between autoimmune diseases and HIV infection and the relatively weak association between autoimmune diseases and cancer may be elucidated as well. In addition, the model rationalizes why immune-modulating drugs, which are effective in cancer, are also effective in "high Treg" viral infections, while corticosteroids, which are generally effective in autoimmune diseases, are also effective in other "low Treg" diseases (such as asthma, atopic dermatitis, and "low Treg" infections) but are not effective in solid malignancies and "high Treg" infections. Moreover, the model expounds why certain bacteria inhibit tumor growth and why these very bacteria induce autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeev Elkoshi
- Taro Pharmaceutical Industries, Haifa Bay, Israel
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Cabrera G, Marcipar I. Vaccines and the regulatory arm of the immune system. An overview from the Trypanosoma cruzi infection model. Vaccine 2019; 37:3628-3637. [PMID: 31155420 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2018] [Revised: 04/13/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The knowledge that the immune system is composed of a regulatory/suppressor arm added a new point of view to better understand the nature of several pathologies including cancer, transplants, infections and autoimmune diseases. The striking discoveries concerning molecules and cells involved in this kind of regulation were followed by the elucidation of equally notable mechanisms used by several pathogens to manipulate the host immune system. Vaccines against pathogens are an invaluable tool developed to help the immune system cope with a potential infection or prevent disease pathology. Nowadays, there is accumulated evidence indicating that the powerful stimulation capacity of vaccines influences not only the effector arm of the immune system but also cells with regulatory/suppressor capacity, such as myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs). Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) is a protozoan parasite with a complex life cycle that has evolved several strategies to influence the regulatory immune response. Although diverse vaccine formulations have been able to stimulate the effector response, achieving non-sterilizing protection against T. cruzi, the influence of the vaccine candidates on the regulatory machinery has scarcely been assessed. This fact may not only reveal important information concerning how vaccines may influence cells with regulatory/suppressor capacity but also open the possibility to analyze whether vaccines are able to disrupt the mechanisms used by some pathogens to manipulate the host regulatory circuits. The aim of this review is to summarize and discuss available data related to the role of cellular components, like MDSCs and Foxp3+ Tregs, during T. cruzi infection, and the potential utility of those populations as additional targets for the rational design of vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Cabrera
- Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina; Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina.
| | - Iván Marcipar
- Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina; Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
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Modulation of Immune-Inflammatory Responses in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: Emerging Molecular Targets. J Immunol Res 2018; 2018:7213760. [PMID: 29967801 PMCID: PMC6008668 DOI: 10.1155/2018/7213760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2018] [Revised: 03/18/2018] [Accepted: 03/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), a deadly vascular disease in human, is a chronic degenerative process of the abdominal aorta. In this process, inflammatory responses and immune system work efficiently by inflammatory cell attraction, proinflammatory factor secretion and subsequently MMP upregulation. Previous studies have demonstrated various inflammatory cell types in AAA of human and animals. The majority of cells, such as macrophages, CD4+ T cells, and B cells, play an important role in the diseased aortic wall through phenotypic modulation. Furthermore, immunoglobulins also greatly affect the functions and differentiation of immune cells in AAA. Recent evidence suggests that innate immune system, especially Toll-like receptors, chemokine receptors, and complements are involved in the progression of AAAs. We discussed the innate immune system, inflammatory cells, immunoglobulins, immune-mediated mechanisms, and key cytokines in the pathogenesis of AAA and particularly emphasis on a further trend and application of these interventions. This current understanding may offer new insights into the role of inflammation and immune response in AAA.
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Fresno M, Gironès N. Regulatory Lymphoid and Myeloid Cells Determine the Cardiac Immunopathogenesis of Trypanosoma cruzi Infection. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:351. [PMID: 29545782 PMCID: PMC5838393 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2018] [Accepted: 02/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is a multisystemic disorder caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which affects ~8 million people in Latin America, killing 7,000 people annually. Chagas disease is one of the main causes of death in the endemic area and the leading cause of infectious myocarditis in the world. T. cruzi infection induces two phases, acute and chronic, where the infection is initially asymptomatic and the majority of patients will remain clinically indeterminate for life. However, over a period of 10–30 years, ~30% of infected individuals will develop irreversible, potentially fatal cardiac syndromes (chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy [CCC]), and/or dilatation of the gastro-intestinal tract (megacolon or megaesophagus). Myocarditis is the most serious and frequent manifestation of chronic Chagas heart disease and appears in about 30% of infected individuals several years after infection occurs. Myocarditis is characterized by a mononuclear cell infiltrate that includes different types of myeloid and lymphoid cells and it can occur also in the acute phase. T. cruzi infects and replicates in macrophages and cardiomyocytes as well as in other nucleated cells. The pathogenesis of the chronic phase is thought to be dependent on an immune-inflammatory reaction to a low-grade replicative infection. It is known that cytokines produced by type 1 helper CD4+ T cells are able to control infection. However, the role that infiltrating lymphoid and myeloid cells may play in experimental and natural Chagas disease pathogenesis has not been completely elucidated, and several reports indicate that it depends on the mouse genetic background and parasite strain and/or inoculum. Here, we review the role that T cell CD4+ subsets, myeloid subclasses including myeloid-derived suppressor cells may play in the immunopathogenesis of Chagas disease with special focus on myocarditis, by comparing results obtained with different experimental animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Fresno
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC), Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, Madrid, Spain
| | - Núria Gironès
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC), Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, Madrid, Spain
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A Human Trypanosome Suppresses CD8+ T Cell Priming by Dendritic Cells through the Induction of Immune Regulatory CD4+ Foxp3+ T Cells. PLoS Pathog 2016; 12:e1005698. [PMID: 27332899 PMCID: PMC4917094 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2015] [Accepted: 05/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Although CD4+ Foxp3+ T cells are largely described in the regulation of CD4+ T cell responses, their role in the suppression of CD8+ T cell priming is much less clear. Because the induction of CD8+ T cells during experimental infection with Trypanosoma cruzi is remarkably delayed and suboptimal, we raised the hypothesis that this protozoan parasite actively induces the regulation of CD8+ T cell priming. Using an in vivo assay that eliminated multiple variables associated with antigen processing and dendritic cell activation, we found that injection of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells exposed to T. cruzi induced regulatory CD4+ Foxp3+ T cells that suppressed the priming of transgenic CD8+ T cells by peptide-loaded BMDC. This newly described suppressive effect on CD8+ T cell priming was independent of IL-10, but partially dependent on CTLA-4 and TGF-β. Accordingly, depletion of Foxp3+ cells in mice infected with T. cruzi enhanced the response of epitope-specific CD8+ T cells. Altogether, our data uncover a mechanism by which T. cruzi suppresses CD8+ T cell responses, an event related to the establishment of chronic infections. CD8+ T lymphocytes mediate immunity to intracellular pathogens by killing infected cells. However, some pathogens are able to evade the response of CD8+ T cells and, thus, establish chronic infections. This is the case of Trypanosoma cruzi, the protozoan parasite that causes Chagas disease. Here, we investigated the basis of the suboptimal response of CD8+ T cells during T. cruzi infection. We observed that cells incubated with the parasite and then adoptively transferred into mice are able to convert an optimal in vivo response of transgenic CD8+ T cells specific to an unrelated epitope into suboptimal. The mechanism of this disturbance relies on the induction of regulatory CD4+ Foxp3+ T cells that interfere with the priming of CD8+ T cells by dendritic cells. These findings illustrate the involvement of regulatory T cells in the regulation of CD8+ T cell priming and contribute to understand how T. cruzi evades host immunity to establish a chronic infection.
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González FB, Calmon-Hamaty F, Nô Seara Cordeiro S, Fernández Bussy R, Spinelli SV, D'Attilio L, Bottasso O, Savino W, Cotta-de-Almeida V, Villar SR, Pérez AR. Trypanosoma cruzi Experimental Infection Impacts on the Thymic Regulatory T Cell Compartment. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0004285. [PMID: 26745276 PMCID: PMC4706328 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2015] [Accepted: 11/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The dynamics of regulatory T cells in the course of Trypanosoma cruzi infection is still debated. We previously demonstrated that acute murine T. cruzi infection results in an impaired peripheral CD4+Foxp3+ T cell differentiation due to the acquisition of an abnormal Th1-like phenotype and altered functional features, negatively impacting on the course of infection. Moreover, T. cruzi infection induces an intense thymic atrophy. As known, the thymus is the primary lymphoid organ in which thymic-derived regulatory T cells, known as tTregs, differentiate. Considering the lack of available data about the effect of T. cruzi infection upon tTregs, we examined tTreg dynamics during the course of disease. We confirmed that T. cruzi infection induces a marked loss of tTreg cell number associated to cell precursor exhaustion, partially avoided by glucocorticoid ablation- and IL-2 survival factor depletion. At the same time, tTregs accumulate within the CD4 single-positive compartment, exhibiting an increased Ki-67/Annexin V ratio compared to controls. Moreover, tTregs enhance after the infection the expression of signature markers (CD25, CD62L and GITR) and they also display alterations in the expression of migration-associated molecules (α chains of VLAs and chemokine receptors) such as functional fibronectin-driven migratory disturbance. Taken together, we provide data demonstrating profound alterations in tTreg compartment during acute murine T. cruzi infection, denoting that their homeostasis is significantly affected. The evident loss of tTreg cell number may compromise the composition of tTreg peripheral pool, and such sustained alteration over time may be partially related to the immune dysregulation observed in the chronic phase of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florencia Belén González
- Institute of Clinical and Experimental Immunology of Rosario (IDICER CONICET-UNR), Rosario, Argentina
| | - Flavia Calmon-Hamaty
- Laboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Synara Nô Seara Cordeiro
- Laboratory of Innovations in Therapy, Teaching and Bioproducts, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Fernández Bussy
- Institute of Clinical and Experimental Immunology of Rosario (IDICER CONICET-UNR), Rosario, Argentina
| | - Silvana Virginia Spinelli
- Institute of Clinical and Experimental Immunology of Rosario (IDICER CONICET-UNR), Rosario, Argentina
| | - Luciano D'Attilio
- Institute of Clinical and Experimental Immunology of Rosario (IDICER CONICET-UNR), Rosario, Argentina
| | - Oscar Bottasso
- Institute of Clinical and Experimental Immunology of Rosario (IDICER CONICET-UNR), Rosario, Argentina
| | - Wilson Savino
- Laboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Vinícius Cotta-de-Almeida
- Laboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Silvina Raquel Villar
- Institute of Clinical and Experimental Immunology of Rosario (IDICER CONICET-UNR), Rosario, Argentina
| | - Ana Rosa Pérez
- Institute of Clinical and Experimental Immunology of Rosario (IDICER CONICET-UNR), Rosario, Argentina
- * E-mail: ,
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