66 research outputs found

    High levels of anti-tuberculin (IgG) antibodies correlate with the blocking of T-cell proliferation in individuals with high exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis

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    SummaryObjectivesTo determine the effect of anti-tuberculin antibodies in the T-cell proliferation in response to tuberculin and Candida antigens in individuals with different levels of tuberculosis (TB) risk.MethodsSixteen high-risk TB individuals, 30 with an intermediate TB risk (group A), and 45 with a low TB risk (group B), as well as 49 control individuals, were studied. Tuberculin skin test (TST) results were analyzed and serum levels of antibodies (IgG and IgM) against purified protein derivative (PPD) were measured by ELISA. Tuberculin and Candida antigens were used to stimulate T-cell proliferation in the presence of human AB serum or autologous serum.ResultsHigh levels of anti-tuberculin IgG antibodies were found to be significantly associated with the blocking of T-cell proliferation responses in cultures stimulated with tuberculin but not with Candida antigens in the presence of autologous serum. This phenomenon was particularly frequent in high-risk individuals with high levels of anti-tuberculin IgG antibodies in the autologous serum when compared to the other risk groups, which exhibited lower levels of anti-tuberculin antibodies.ConclusionsAlthough cellular immunity plays a central role in the protection against TB, humoral immunity is critical in the control of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in high-risk individuals with latent TB infection

    Psoriasis Patients Are Enriched for Genetic Variants That Protect against HIV-1 Disease

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    An important paradigm in evolutionary genetics is that of a delicate balance between genetic variants that favorably boost host control of infection but which may unfavorably increase susceptibility to autoimmune disease. Here, we investigated whether patients with psoriasis, a common immune-mediated disease of the skin, are enriched for genetic variants that limit the ability of HIV-1 virus to replicate after infection. We analyzed the HLA class I and class II alleles of 1,727 Caucasian psoriasis cases and 3,581 controls and found that psoriasis patients are significantly more likely than controls to have gene variants that are protective against HIV-1 disease. This includes several HLA class I alleles associated with HIV-1 control; amino acid residues at HLA-B positions 67, 70, and 97 that mediate HIV-1 peptide binding; and the deletion polymorphism rs67384697 associated with high surface expression of HLA-C. We also found that the compound genotype KIR3DS1 plus HLA-B Bw4-80I, which respectively encode a natural killer cell activating receptor and its putative ligand, significantly increased psoriasis susceptibility. This compound genotype has also been associated with delay of progression to AIDS. Together, our results suggest that genetic variants that contribute to anti-viral immunity may predispose to the development of psoriasis

    An archaic HLA class I receptor allele diversifies natural killer cell-driven immunity in First Nations peoples of Oceania

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    Genetic variation in host immunity impacts the disproportionate burden of infectious diseases that can be experienced by First Nations peoples. Polymorphic human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I and killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) are key regulators of natural killer (NK) cells, which mediate early infection control. How this variation impacts their responses across populations is unclear. We show that HLA-A∗24:02 became the dominant ligand for inhibitory KIR3DL1 in First Nations peoples across Oceania, through positive natural selection. We identify KIR3DL1∗114, widespread across and unique to Oceania, as an allele lineage derived from archaic humans. KIR3DL1∗114+NK cells from First Nations Australian donors are inhibited through binding HLA-A∗24:02. The KIR3DL1∗114 lineage is defined by phenylalanine at residue 166. Structural and binding studies show phenylalanine 166 forms multiple unique contacts with HLA-peptide complexes, increasing both affinity and specificity. Accordingly, assessing immunogenetic variation and the functional implications for immunity are fundamental toward understanding population-based disease associations
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