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Toxoplasma co-infection prevents Th2 differentiation and leads to a helminth-specific Th1 response

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Item Type:Article
Title:Toxoplasma co-infection prevents Th2 differentiation and leads to a helminth-specific Th1 response
Creators Name:Ahmed, N., French, T., Rausch, S., Kühl, A., Hemminger, K., Dunay, I.R., Steinfelder, S. and Hartmann, S.
Abstract:Nematode infections, in particular gastrointestinal nematodes, are widespread and co-infections with other parasites and pathogens are frequently encountered in humans and animals. To decipher the immunological effects of a widespread protozoan infection on the anti-helminth immune response we studied a co-infection with the enteric nematode Heligmosomoides polygyrus in mice previously infected with Toxoplasma gondii. Protective immune responses against nematodes are dependent on parasite-specific Th2 responses associated with IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, IgE, and IgG1 antibodies. In contrast, Toxoplasma gondii infection elicits a strong and protective Th1 immune response characterized by IFN-γ, IL-12, and IgG2a antibodies. Co-infected animals displayed significantly higher worm fecundity although worm burden remained unchanged. In line with this, the Th2 response to H. polygyrus in co-infected animals showed a profound reduction of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and GATA-3 expressing T cells. Co-infection also resulted in the lack of eosinophilia and reduced expression of the Th2 effector molecule RELM-β in intestinal tissue. In contrast, the Th1 response to the protozoan parasite was not diminished and parasitemia of T. gondii was unaffected by concurrent helminth infection. Importantly, H. polygyrus specific restimulation of splenocytes revealed H. polygyrus-reactive CD4(+) T cells that produce a significant amount of IFN-γ in co-infected animals. This was not observed in animals infected with the nematode alone. Increased levels of H. polygyrus-specific IgG2a antibodies in co-infected mice mirrored this finding. This study suggests that polarization rather than priming of naive CD4(+) T cells is disturbed in mice previously infected with T. gondii. In conclusion, a previous T. gondii infection limits a helminth-specific Th2 immune response while promoting a shift toward a Th1-type immune response.
Keywords:Th2, Th1, Toxoplasma Gondii, Heligmosomoides Polygyrus, Co-Infection, Helminth, Animals, Mice
Source:Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
ISSN:2235-2988
Publisher:Frontiers Media SA
Volume:7
Page Range:341
Date:25 July 2017
Official Publication:https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2017.00341
PubMed:View item in PubMed

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