Enteric helminth infection confers protection against lethal respiratory influenza virus infection
Journal
The Journal of Immunology
Journal Volume
210
Journal Issue
1_Supplement
Date Issued
2023
Author(s)
Abstract
Abstract Chronic helminth infection has been considered a serious public health issue. Due to the widespread of helminthiasis, people co-infected with helminth and other pathogens, such as virus, may be common. Studies suggest that helminth infection exert immunomodulatory effects that may alter host susceptibility to subsequent unrelated pulmonary pathogens, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. However, the outcome of helminth-respiratory viral co-infection remains controversial. Here, we established an enteric helminth Heligomosomoides polygyrus bakeri (Hpb)-influenza virus co-infection mouse model, then characterized the immune responses modulated by Hpb infection in the lungs of the helminth chronically infected mice. Our results showed that enteric helminth-infected mice exhibited increased survival and reduced weight loss after lethal influenza virus infection compared with helminth-inexperienced mice. Further analysis revealed that enteric helminth infection altered immune landscape in the lungs by increasing effector CD4+ and CD8+ T cells infiltrated into the airway, as well as upregulating type I interferons and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the lung tissues before influenza virus infection. After influenza virus infection, viral titers were significantly decreased, whereas the viral-specific antibody responses and cellular responses were increased in the lungs of helminth-infected mice. Moreover, histological examination of the lungs revealed that cell infiltration in lung parenchyma and airway lumen was reduced in helminth-infected mice. Taken together, these results suggested that enteric helminth infection confers “bystander” protection against pulmonary influenza virus infection. Supported by grants from MOST (109-2320-B-002-074-MY3), NHRI (EX110/111-11033SI) and NTU (111L7829), Taiwan
Event(s)
Annual Meeting of the American-Association-of-Immunologists (AAI)
SDGs
Publisher
AMER ASSOC IMMUNOLOGISTS
Type
meeting abstract