HIV specific Th1 responses are altered in Ugandans with HIV and Schistosoma mansoni coinfection

• Published in: BMC immunology Vol. 24; no. 1; p. 25
• Main Authors: Obuku, Andrew Ekii, Lugemwa, Jacqueline Kyosiimire, Abaasa, Andrew, Joloba, Moses, Ding, Song, Pollara, Justin, Ferrari, Guido, Harari, Alexandre, Pantaleo, Giuseppe, Kaleebu, Pontiano
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central 29.08.2023; BMC
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; AIDS; Animals; Antibodies; CD4 antigen; Cell activation; Coinfection; Cytokines; Cytotoxicity; Down modulation; Drug therapy; Fishing; Flow cytometry; Genotype & phenotype; HIV; HIV Infections - complications; HIV Infections - epidemiology; HIV-1; Human immunodeficiency virus; Hypotheses; Immune responses; Infections; Lymphocytes; Lymphocytes T; Pathogens; Phenotypes; Schistosoma mansoni; Schistosomiasis; Schistosomiasis - complications; Schistosomiasis - epidemiology; Statistical significance; Tumor necrosis factor-α; γ-Interferon; Lake Victoria; HIV-1; Schistosomiasis; Immune responses; Down modulation
• ISSN: 1471-2172; 1471-2172
• DOI: 10.1186/s12865-023-00554-3

Fishing communities surrounding Lake Victoria in Uganda have HIV prevalence of 28% and incidence rates of 5 per 100 person years. More than 50% of the local fishermen are infected with Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni). We investigated the role of S. mansoni coinfection as a possible modifier of immune responses against HIV. Using polychromatic flow cytometry and Gran-ToxiLux assays, HIV specific responses, T cell phenotypes, antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxic (ADCC) potency and titres were compared between participants with HIV-S. mansoni coinfection and participants with HIV infection alone. S. mansoni coinfection was associated with a modified pattern of anti-HIV responses, including lower frequency of bifunctional (IFNγ + IL-2 - TNF-α+) CD4 T cells, higher overall CD4 T cell activation and lower HIV ADCC antibody titres, compared to participants with HIV alone. These results support the hypothesis that S. mansoni infection affects T cell and antibody responses to HIV in coinfected individuals.