Recurrent visceral leishmaniasis relapses in HIV co-infected patients are characterized by less efficient immune responses and higher parasite load

Takele, Y. et al. (2023) Recurrent visceral leishmaniasis relapses in HIV co-infected patients are characterized by less efficient immune responses and higher parasite load. iScience, 26(2), 105867. (doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105867) (PMID:36685039) (PMCID:PMC9845767)

Abstract

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and HIV co-infection (VL/HIV) has emerged as a significant public health problem in Ethiopia, with up to 30% of patients with VL co-infected with HIV. These patients suffer from recurrent VL relapses and increased mortality. Those with a previous history of VL relapses (recurrent VL/HIV) experience increased VL relapses as compared to patients with HIV presenting with their first episode of VL (primary VL/HIV). Our aim was to identify drivers that account for the higher rate of VL relapses in patients with recurrent VL/HIV (n = 28) as compared to primary VL/HIV (n = 21). Our results show that the relapse-free survival in patients with recurrent VL/HIV was shorter, that they had higher parasite load, lower weight gain, and lower recovery of all blood cell lineages. Their poorer prognosis was characterized by lower production of IFN-gamma, lower CD4 T cell counts, and higher expression of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1) on T cells.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: Y.T. is funded by a Wellcome Trust Training Fellowship in Public Health and Tropical Medicine (204797/Z/16/Z). This research was funded in part by the Wellcome Trust Grant [Grant number 206194, JAC]. M.K. is funded by a Wellcome Trust Sir Henry Wellcome Fellowship (206508/Z/17/Z).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Cotton, Professor James
• Authors: Takele, Y., Mulaw, T., Adem, E., Womersley, R., Kaforou, M., Franssen, S. U., Levin, M., Taylor, G. P., Müller, I., Cotton, J. A., and Kropf, P.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Journal Name: iScience
• Publisher: Elsevier (Cell Press)
• ISSN: 2589-0042
• ISSN (Online): 2589-0042
• Published Online: 23 December 2023
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2023 The Authors
• First Published: First published in iScience 26(2):105867
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons license