Unaltered T cell responses to common antigens in individuals with Parkinson’s disease

Abstract

Background and ObjectivesParkinson’s disease (PD) is associated with a heightened inflammatory state, including activated T cells. However, it is unclear whether these PD T cell responses are antigen specific or more indicative of generalized hyperresponsiveness. Our objective was to measure and compare antigen-specific T cell responses directed towards antigens derived from commonly encountered human pathogens/vaccines in patients with PD and age-matched healthy controls (HC).MethodsPeripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 20 PD patients and 19 age-matched HCs were screened. Antigen specific T cell responses were measured by flow cytometry using a combination of the activation induced marker (AIM) assay and intracellular cytokine staining.ResultsHere we show that both PD patients and HCs show similar T cell activation levels to several antigens derived from commonly encountered human pathogens/vaccines in the general population. Similarly, we also observed no difference between HC and PD in the levels of CD4 and CD8 T cell derived cytokines produced in response to any of the common antigens tested. These antigens encompassed both viral (coronavirus, rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, influenza, cytomegalovirus) and bacterial (pertussis, tetanus) targets.ConclusionsThese results suggest the T cell dysfunction observed in PD may not extend itself to abnormal responses to commonly encountered or vaccine-target antigens. Our study supports the notion that the targets of inflammatory T cell responses in PD may be more directed towards autoantigens like α-synuclein (α-syn) rather than common foreign antigens.

Bioinformatics analysis of potential common pathogenic mechanism for carotid atherosclerosis and Parkinson’s disease

“…Several epidemiological studies have suggested that pertussis may increase the risk of PD (de Pedro-Cuesta et al, 1996;Vlajinac et al, 2013). Further research has indicated that there is no direct relationship between PD and pertussis vaccination or immunoglobulin against pertussis, suggesting that the association is not simply a result of immunological responses to the bacteria (Fiszer et al, 2004;Williams et al, 2023). On the other hand, studies on atherosclerosis have shown that oxLDL can inhibit the endothelium-dependent relaxation of arteries via pertussis toxinsensitive G proteins (Shimokawa et al, 1991;Jing et al, 1999).…”