| 1. |
- Nilsson, C, et al.
(författare)
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Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus are differentially associated with numbers of cytokine-producing cells and early atopy
- 2009
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Ingår i: Clinical and Experimental Allergy. - Oxford : Blackwell. - 0954-7894 .- 1365-2222. ; 39:4, s. 509-517
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: We have previously shown that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) seropositivity, at 2 years of age, was inversely related to IgE-sensitization and that this effect was enhanced when EBV is combined with cytomegalovirus (CMV) seropositivity. We hypothesize that early exposure to EBV or CMV will affect the cytokine balance in the individual.OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to relate the cytokine profile in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to the EBV and CMV serostatus and IgE-sensitization in children at 2 years of age.METHODS: Seventy-five children were followed prospectively from birth until 2 years of age. Their EBV and CMV serostatus was correlated to the numbers of IFN-gamma, IL-4, IL-10 and IL-12-producing PBMC following PHA stimulation in vitro. Skin prick tests and allergen-specific IgE antibodies were used to assess IgE-sensitization.RESULTS: In the study cohort, there was an inverse association between EBV seropositivity and IgE-sensitization but not with CMV seropositivity. Following linear regression analysis, we did not detect any statistically significant associations between children with IgG antibodies against EBV at 2 years of age and the investigated cytokines. However, there was a non-significant tendency to a positive association between high numbers of all individual cytokine-producing cells and EBV seropositivity. Children who were CMV seropositive had significantly higher numbers of IFN-gamma and lower numbers of IL-4-producing cells compared with CMV negative children. There was a significant, positive association between the number of IL-4-producing cells and IgE-sensitization.CONCLUSION: Taken together our results indicate that infections with EBV and CMV in different ways will interact with the immune system and may protect children from developing early atopy.
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| 2. |
- Tjärnlund, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Polymeric Ig receptor knockout mice are more susceptible to mycobacteria infection in the respiratory tract
- 2006
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Ingår i: International Immunology. - : Oxford university press. - 0953-8178 .- 1460-2377. ; 18:5, s. 807-816
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- It is generally accepted that cellular, and not humoral immunity, plays the crucial role in defense against intracellular bacteria. However, accumulating data indicate the importance of humoral immunity for the defense against a number of intracellular bacteria, including mycobacteria. We have investigated the role of secretory IgA, the main isotype found in mucosal tissues, in protection against mycobacterial infection, using polymeric IgR (pIgR)-deficient mice. Characterization of the humoral response induced after intra-nasal immunizations with the mycobacterial antigen PstS-1 revealed a loss of antigen-specific IgA response in saliva from the knockout mice. IgA level in the bronchoalveolar lavage of knockout mice was similar to wild-type level, although the IgA antibodies must have reached the lumen by other means than pIgR-mediated transport. Infection with Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) demonstrated that the immunized pIgR−/− mice were more susceptible to BCG infection than immunized wild-type mice, based on higher bacterial loads in the lungs. This was accompanied by a reduced production of both IFN-γ and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in the lungs. Additionally, the pIgR−/− mice displayed reduced natural resistance to mycobacterial infection proved by significantly higher bacterial growth in their lungs compared with wild-type mice after infection with virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The knockout mice appeared to have a delayed mycobacteria-induced immune response with reduced expression of protective mediators, such as IFN-γ, TNF-α, inducible nitric oxide synthase and regulated upon activation normal T cell sequence, during early infection. Collectively, our results show that actively secreted IgA plays a role in protection against mycobacterial infections in the respiratory tract, by blocking entrance of bacilli into the lungs, in addition to modulation of the mycobacteria-induced pro-inflammatory response.
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| 3. |
- Iriemenam, Nnaemeka C., et al.
(författare)
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Antibody responses to a panel of Plasmodium falciparum malaria blood-stage antigens in relation to clinical disease outcome in Sudan
- 2009
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Ingår i: Vaccine. - Amsterdam : Elsevier. - 0264-410X .- 1873-2518. ; 27:1, s. 62-71
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Despite many intervention programmes aimed at curtailing the scourge, malaria remains a formidable problem of human health. Immunity to asexual blood-stage of Plasmodium falciparum malaria is thought to be associated with protective antibodies of certain immunoglobulin classes and subclasses. We have analysed immunoglobulin G profiles to six leading blood-stage antigens in relation to clinical malaria outcome in a hospital-based study in Sudan. Our results revealed a linear association with anti-AMA-1-IgG1 antibodies in children <5 years and reduced risk of severe malaria, while the responses of the IgG3 antibodies against MSP-2, MSP-3, GLURP in individuals above 5 years were bi-modal. A dominance of IgG3 antibodies in >5 years was also observed. In the final combined model, the highest levels of IgG1 antibodies to AMA-1, GLURP-R0, and the highest levels of IgG3 antibodies to 3D7 MSP-2 were independently associated with protection from clinical malaria. The study provides further support for the potential importance of the studied merozoite vaccine candidate antigens as targets for parasite neutralizing antibody responses of the IgG1 and IgG3 subclasses.
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| 4. |
- Courtin, David, et al.
(författare)
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G6PD A-variant influences the antibody responses to Plasmodium falciparum MSP2.
- 2011
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Ingår i: Infection, Genetics and Evolution. - : Elsevier BV. - 1567-1348 .- 1567-7257. ; 11:6, s. 1287-1292
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- High antibody levels directed to Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface proteins (MSP), including MSP2, as well as genetically related red blood cell defects, have previously been found to be associated with protection against malaria. Here, our main objective was to study the changes in MSP2-specific total IgG, IgG1 and IgG3 responses during a malaria transmission season in order to assess the impact of sickle-cell, α(+)-thalassemia and G6PD variants on antibody kinetics. Repeated parasitological assessments of a cohort of children were conducted during an 8-month period. Antibody responses to recombinant MSP2/3D7 and MSP2/FC27 proteins were measured at the beginning and at the end of transmission season. We found that (i) the period of last Plasmodium falciparum infection during the transmission season was associated with IgG3 anti-MSP2 change. Compared to the IgG3 levels of children infected in January 2003 (end of transmission season), the IgG3 level of children decreased with the length of the period without infection, (ii) G6PD A- carriers had a lower increase of IgG3 levels to MSP2/FC27 and MSP2/3D7 during the transmission season than the noncarriers. This latter finding is suggestive of qualitative and/or quantitative reduction of exposure to malarial antigens related to this genetic variant, leading to weaker stimulation of specific antibody responses. We speculate that cell-mediated immune activity may explain the clinical protection afforded by this genetic trait.
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| 5. |
- Giusti, Pablo, et al.
(författare)
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Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes and beta-hematin induce partial maturation of human dendritic cells and increase their migratory ability in response to lymphoid chemokines.
- 2011
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Ingår i: Infection and Immunity. - 0019-9567 .- 1098-5522. ; 79:7, s. 2727-2736
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Acute and chronic Plasmodium falciparum infections alter the immune competence of the host possibly through changes in dendritic cell (DC) functionality. DCs are the most potent activators of T cells, and migration is integral to their function. Mature DCs express lymphoid chemokine receptors (CCRs), expression of which enables them to migrate to the lymph nodes, where they encounter naïve T cells. The present study aimed to investigate the impact of the synthetic analog to malaria parasite pigment hemozoin, i.e., β-hematin, or infected erythrocytes (iRBCs) on the activation status of human monocyte-derived DCs and on their expression of CCRs. Human monocyte-derived DCs partially matured upon incubation with β-hematin as indicated by an increased expression of CD80 and CD83. Both β-hematin and iRBCs provoked the release of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor alpha, but not IL-12, and induced upregulation of the lymphoid chemokine receptor CXCR4, which was coupled to an increased migration to lymphoid ligands. Taken together, these results suggest that the partial and transient maturation of human myeloid DCs upon stimulation with malaria parasite-derived products and the increased IL-10 but lack of IL-12 secretion may lead to suboptimal activation of T cells. This may in turn lead to impaired adaptive immune responses and therefore insufficient clearance of the parasites.
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| 6. |
- Simone, Olivia, et al.
(författare)
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TLRs innate immunereceptors and Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) CIDR1α-driven human polyclonal B-cell activation.
- 2011
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Ingår i: Acta Tropica. - : Elsevier BV. - 0001-706X .- 1873-6254. ; 119:2-3, s. 144-150
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Chronic malaria severely affects the immune system and causes polyclonal B-cell activation, as evidenced by the presence of hypergammaglobulinemia, elevated levels of autoantibodies, loss of B-cell memory and the frequent occurrence of Burkitt's lymphomas (BL) in children living in malaria endemic areas. Previous studies have shown that the cysteine-rich interdomain region 1α (CIDR1α) of the Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) of the FCR3S1.2 strain, subsequently named CIDR1α, interacts with B cells partially through the binding to the B-cell receptor (BCR). This interaction leads to an activated phenotype, increased survival, and a low degree of proliferation. CIDR1α preferentially activates the memory B-cell compartment, therefore PfEMP1 is considered to act as a polyclonal B-cell activator and its role in memory maintenance has been suggested. In this report, we extend the analysis of the PfEMP1-CIDR1α B-cell interaction and demonstrate that PfEMP1-CIDR1α increases the expression of TLR7 and TLR10 mRNA transcripts and sensitizes B cells to TLR9 signalling via the MyD88 adaptor molecule. Furthermore, despite its ability to bind to surface Igs, PfEMP1-CIDR1α-induced B-cell activation does not seem to proceed through the BCR, since it does not induce Lyn and/or phospho-tyrosine mediated signalling pathways. Rather PfEMP1-CIDR1α induces the phosphorylation of downstream kinases, such as ERK1/2, p38 and IKBα, in human B cells. These findings indicate that PfEMP1-CIDR1α induces a persistent activation of B cells, which in turn can contribute to the exhaustion and impairment of B-cell functions during chronic malaria infection.
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| 7. |
- Howard, Jennifer, et al.
(författare)
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The Antigen-Presenting Potential of V gamma 9V delta 2 T Cells During Plasmodium falciparum Blood-Stage Infection
- 2017
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Ingår i: Journal of Infectious Diseases. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0022-1899 .- 1537-6613. ; 215:10, s. 1569-1579
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- During Plasmodium falciparum infections, erythrocyte-stage parasites inhibit dendritic cell maturation and function, compromising effective antimalarial adaptive immunity. Human V gamma 9V delta 2 T cells can act in vitro as antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and induce alpha beta T-cell activation. However, the relevance of this activity in vivo has remained elusive. Because V gamma 9V delta 2 T cells are activated during the early immune response against P. falciparum infection, we investigated whether they could contribute to the instruction of adaptive immune responses toward malaria parasites. In P. falciparum-infected patients, V gamma 9V delta 2 T cells presented increased surface expression of APC-associated markers HLA-DR and CD86. In response to infected red blood cells in vitro, V gamma 9V delta 2 T cells upregulated surface expression of HLA-DR, HLA-ABC, CD40, CD80, CD83, and CD86, induced naive alpha beta T-cell responses, and cross-presented soluble prototypical protein to antigen-specific CD8(+) T cells. Our findings qualify V gamma 9V delta 2 T cells as alternative APCs, which could be harnessed for therapeutic interventions and vaccine design.
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| 8. |
- Mangano, Valentina D, 1980-
(författare)
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Dissecting the complexity of human susceptibility to Plasmodium falciparum malaria: genetic approaches
- 2008
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- There are many aspects of the immunology of P. falciparum infection that are not understood. Genetic approaches are of great value for dissecting the complexity of immune responses to malaria in natura by providing new insights into molecular interactions between the parasite and the host. The work presented in this thesis had two major aims: to investigate the role of IFN-γ signalling in susceptibility to malaria; and to understand the biological basis of the low susceptibility to malaria shown by the Fula people of West Africa. We conducted genetic association studies to investigate the role of four candidate loci: IFNG, IFNGR1, IFNGR2 and IRF1. We observed significant associations between common genetic variation at the IRF1 locus and the ability to control P. falciparum infection. Our studies did not provide evidence for a major role of this gene in determining susceptibility to severe malaria. Using allele-specific expression assays we obtained preliminary results suggesting the existence of a regulatory element(s) in the 5’ upstream region of the IRF1 locus. IRF1 polymorphisms regulating gene expression could affect the production of inflammatory cytokines and the control of infection, but not the immune-based pathogenesis of severe disease. To understand the biological basis of the resistance to malaria shown by the Fula, we analysed HLA class II polymorphism and confirmed previous data showing that the Fula from Burkina Faso are genetically distinct from sympatric Mossi and Rimaibé. We then compared the expression profiles of PBMCs and CD4+CD25+ cells isolated from healthy adults of Fula and Mossi ethnicity. In the Fula we observed higher expression of several genes related to Th1 and Th2 function and reduced expression of important genes related to immune tolerance: FOXP3, CTLA4, TGFB and TGFBRs. These results suggest a functional deficit of T regulatory cells in the Fula and identify key genes as good candidates for future genetic association studies.
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| 9. |
- Kumsiri, Ratchanok, et al.
(författare)
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IgE low affinity receptor (CD23) expression, Plasmodium falciparum specific IgE and tumor necrosis factor-alpha production in Thai uncomplicated and severe falciparum malaria patients
- 2016
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Ingår i: Acta Tropica. - : Elsevier BV. - 0001-706X .- 1873-6254. ; 154, s. 25-33
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Previous studies have suggested that Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) specific IgE in the form of immune complexes crosslinking the low-affinity receptor (CD23) on monocyte results in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and nitric oxide (NO) production. However, the roles of these parameters in severity and immune protection are still unclear. This study aimed to determine the association between CD23 expression on monocytes, plasma soluble CD23 (sCD23), total IgE, malaria-specific IgE and IgG, and TNF-alpha levels in P. falciparum infected patients. We evaluated 64 uncomplicated (UC) and 25 severe patients (S), admitted at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Mahidol University, and 34 healthy controls (C) enrolled in 2001. Flow cytometry and enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) demonstrated that trends of the CD23 expression, levels of sCD23 and specific IgE were higher in the S group as compared to those in the UC and C groups. Plasma levels of P. falciparum specific IgE in the UC (p = 0.011) and S groups (p = 0.025) were significantly higher than those in C group. In contrast the TNF-alpha levels tended to be higher in the UC than those in the S (p = 0343) and significantly higher than those in C (p = 0.004) groups. The specific IgG levels in UC were significantly higher than those in S and C (p < 0.001) groups. At admission, a strong significant negative correlation was found between specific IgG and sCD23 (r = -0.762, p = 0.028), and TNF-alpha and IgE-IgG complexes (r=-0.715, p = 0.002). Significant positive correlations between levels of specific IgE and TNF-alpha (r=0.575, p = 0.010); and sCD23 (r=0.597, p = 0.000) were also observed. In conclusion, our data suggest that CD23 expression and malaria-specific IgE levels may be involved in the severity of the disease while TNF-alpha and the malaria-specific IgG may correlate with protection against falciparum malaria.
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| 10. |
- Shelton, Jennifer M. G., et al.
(författare)
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Genetic determinants of anti-malarial acquired immunity in a large multi-centre study
- 2015
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Ingår i: Malaria Journal. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1475-2875 .- 1475-2875. ; 14
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Many studies report associations between human genetic factors and immunity to malaria but few have been reliably replicated. These studies are usually country-specific, use small sample sizes and are not directly comparable due to differences in methodologies. This study brings together samples and data collected from multiple sites across Africa and Asia to use standardized methods to look for consistent genetic effects on anti-malarial antibody levels. Methods: Sera, DNA samples and clinical data were collected from 13,299 individuals from ten sites in Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, and Sri Lanka using standardized methods. DNA was extracted and typed for 202 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms with known associations to malaria or antibody production, and antibody levels to four clinical grade malarial antigens [AMA1, MSP1, MSP2, and (NANP) 4] plus total IgE were measured by ELISA techniques. Regression models were used to investigate the associations of clinical and genetic factors with antibody levels. Results: Malaria infection increased levels of antibodies to malaria antigens and, as expected, stable predictors of anti-malarial antibody levels included age, seasonality, location, and ethnicity. Correlations between antibodies to blood-stage antigens AMA1, MSP1 and MSP2 were higher between themselves than with antibodies to the (NANP)(4) epitope of the pre-erythrocytic circumsporozoite protein, while there was little or no correlation with total IgE levels. Individuals with sickle cell trait had significantly lower antibody levels to all blood-stage antigens, and recessive homozygotes for CD36 (rs321198) had significantly lower anti-malarial antibody levels to MSP2. Conclusion: Although the most significant finding with a consistent effect across sites was for sickle cell trait, its effect is likely to be via reducing a microscopically positive parasitaemia rather than directly on antibody levels. However, this study does demonstrate a framework for the feasibility of combining data from sites with heterogeneous malaria transmission levels across Africa and Asia with which to explore genetic effects on anti-malarial immunity.
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