Skip to main content

Helminth Antigens Modulate Virus-Induced Activation of CD154 (CD40L) Expression on T Cells in -Infected Individuals.

Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)

Authors: Brice Armel Nembot Fogang, Kathrin Arndts, Tomabu Adjobimey, Michael Owusu, Vera Serwaa Opoku, Derrick Adu Mensah, John Boateng, Jubin Osei-Mensah, Julia Meyer, Ute Klarmann-Schulz, Sacha Horn, Inge Kroidl, Alexander Y Debrah, Achim Hoerauf, Manuel Ritter, Linda B Debrah

BACKGROUND: The interaction between helminth and viral infections has important implications for understanding viral disease outcomes and vaccine efficacy in helminth-endemic regions. We previously demonstrated that helminth seropositivity is associated with reduced Th1/Th17 cytokine levels and reduced COVID-19 severity; however, the underlying immunological mechanisms remain unclear. This study further investigated these mechanisms by assessing how helminth antigens influence SARS-CoV-2-induced T-cell responses in individuals infected with filarial parasites .

METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 43 participants, including -infected individuals, filarial lymphedema patients, and non-endemic controls, were stimulated with SARS-CoV-2 peptides and antigens.

RESULTS: Fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis showed a significant reduction in SARS-CoV-2-induced CD154 expression on CD4 T cells but an increase on CD8 T cells in -infected participants ( < 0.0001). antigens alone did not induce significant T-cell activation in -infected individuals. However, SARS-CoV-2 peptides strongly activated CD4CD154 T cells response ( = 0.0074), but co-stimulation with antigens markedly reduced CD3 and CD4CD154 T-cell expression frequencies ( = 0.0329 and = 0.0452). -specific IgG correlated inversely with SARS-CoV-2-induced CD4CD154 expression (r = -0.6025, = 0.0049), whereas SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG was positively associated with CD4CD154 and CD8CD154 T-cell responses (β = 0.532, = 0.016 and β = 0.509, = 0.022).

CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that helminth antigens modulate functional SARS-CoV-2-induced T-cell responses, offering a potential mechanism through which helminth co-infections shape antiviral immunity, vaccine efficacy, and clinical disease outcomes.

PMID: 41599077

Participating cluster members