HIV specific Th1 responses are altered in Ugandans with schistosoma mansoni coinfection

Abstract

AbstractFishing 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 withSchistosoma mansoni(S. mansoni). We investigated the role ofS. mansonicoinfection 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. mansonicoinfection and participants with HIV infection alone.S. mansonicoinfection 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 thatS. mansoniinfection affects T cell and antibody responses to HIV in coinfected individuals.