Filarial Infections Increase Susceptibility to Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells In Vitro

Abstract

Because helminth infections and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coexist in areas where the spread of AIDS is most dramatic, their in vitro interaction was explored. Cryopreserved peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with filarial infections (n=24) and from unexposed control subjects (n=12) were depleted of CD8 T cells and were infected with macrophage (M)- and T cell-tropic viruses. A trend toward increased HIV replication in PBMC from filaria-infected patients was observed. Furthermore, PBMC from 6 filaria-infected patients before antifilarial treatment were significantly more susceptible to replication of M-tropic virus than their posttreatment PBMC (P=.03). No intergroup differences were found in the surface expression of HLA-DR, CD25, CCR5, CXCR4, CCR3 on CD4 T cells, or monocytes before infection. PBMC from filaria-infected patients produced less RANTES (P=.02) but more intracellular interleukin-4 than those of control subjects. Thus, PBMC from persons with filarial infections appear to have enhanced susceptibility to HIV-1 infection mediated by an undetermined mechanism.

Enteric parasites in HIV-1/AIDS-infected patients from a Northwestern São Paulo reference unit in the highly active antiretroviral therapy era

“…Immune depression in human hosts has a less relevant impact on helminth parasites than on protozoa 37 . However, besides the chronic immune sequels, there is a hypothesis that Th2 lymphocyte polarization that follows helminths can have a relevant role in the HIV infection pathogenesis by the preferential virus application in these cells, increasing lymphocyte apoptosis and acting as a stimulus for viral co-receptors 38 . The pattern of A. duodenale infection has been verified, and although few studies have reviewed HIV patients that did not present a intestinal dysfunction, such as diarrhea, these hosts act as means of transportation through water and defecation.…”

Cofactor infections and HIV epidemics in developing countries: implications for treatment

“…Lymphatic filariasis has been shown to suppress immune response in HIVnegative persons and increase viral load in HIV-infected persons, affecting individual transmission and population dynamics (Gopinath et al, 2000). Moreover, lymphatic filariasis (LF) affects the lymphatic immune system and also can result in infection of and damage to the genital organs.…”

Interactions between schistosomiasis and human immunodeficiency virus in Western Kenya

“…Nevertheless, there are some data from human studies that support the hypothesis that people with helminth infections are more susceptible to HIV-1 infection and/or experience increased viral replication. Cells from persons with schistosomiasis, intestinal helminths, or filariasis are more susceptible to HIV-1 infection in vitro than are cells from persons without helminth infection (Shapira-Nahor et al 1998, Gopinath et al 2000. Levels of the chemokine receptors that also serve as HIV-1 coreceptors may provide a mechanistic explanation for these observations.…”