Back to Search
Start Over
Autoimmunity to phosphatidylserine and anemia in African Trypanosome infections
- Source :
- PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Vol 15, Iss 9, p e0009814 (2021), PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
- Publication Year :
- 2021
- Publisher :
- Public Library of Science (PLoS), 2021.
-
Abstract
- Anemia caused by trypanosome infection is poorly understood. Autoimmunity during Trypanosoma brucei infection was proposed to have a role during anemia, but the mechanisms involved during this pathology have not been elucidated. In mouse models and human patients infected with malaria parasites, atypical B-cells promote anemia through the secretion of autoimmune anti-phosphatidylserine (anti-PS) antibodies that bind to uninfected erythrocytes and facilitate their clearance. Using mouse models of two trypanosome infections, Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma cruzi, we assessed levels of autoantibodies and anemia. Our results indicate that acute T. brucei infection, but not T. cruzi, leads to early increased levels of plasma autoantibodies against different auto antigens tested (PS, DNA and erythrocyte lysate) and expansion of atypical B cells (ABCs) that secrete these autoantibodies. In vitro studies confirmed that a lysate of T. brucei, but not T. cruzi, could directly promote the expansion of these ABCs. PS exposure on erythrocyte plasma membrane seems to be an important contributor to anemia by delaying erythrocyte recovery since treatment with an agent that prevents binding to it (Annexin V) ameliorated anemia in T. brucei-infected mice. Analysis of the plasma of patients with human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) revealed high levels of anti-PS antibodies that correlated with anemia. Altogether these results suggest a relation between autoimmunity against PS and anemia in both mice and patients infected with T. brucei.<br />Author summary African trypanosomes are relevant pathogens and a cause of great morbidity and economic burden in endemic countries. Anemia during infection by African Trypanosomes is one of the most common pathologies associated with the disease, but the mechanisms leading to it are poorly understood. Here, we report evidence of autoimmunity, particularly autoantibodies against the lipid phosphatidylserine that are secreted by autoimmune/atypical B-cells, in Trypanosoma brucei infected mice and that are also found in Human African Trypanosomiasis patients and correlate with levels of anemia. These findings point to a relation between autoimmunity and anemia during infection with African Trypanosomes, possibly through the secretion of autoantibodies against phosphatidylserine.
- Subjects :
- Male
B Cells
Erythrocytes
Physiology
RC955-962
Autoimmunity
medicine.disease_cause
Biochemistry
White Blood Cells
Mice
Medical Conditions
Animal Cells
Immune Physiology
Red Blood Cells
Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine
Medicine and Health Sciences
African trypanosomiasis
Protozoans
Immune System Proteins
biology
Eukaryota
Anemia
Hematology
Middle Aged
Infectious Diseases
Female
Cellular Types
Antibody
Public aspects of medicine
RA1-1270
Research Article
Adult
Trypanosoma
Adolescent
Immune Cells
Immunology
Trypanosoma brucei brucei
Phosphatidylserines
Trypanosoma brucei
Antibodies
Young Adult
parasitic diseases
Parasitic Diseases
Trypanosoma Brucei
medicine
Animals
Humans
Antibody-Producing Cells
Trypanosoma cruzi
Autoantibodies
Blood Cells
business.industry
Organisms
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Autoantibody
Biology and Life Sciences
Proteins
Cell Biology
biology.organism_classification
medicine.disease
Parasitic Protozoans
Trypanosomiasis, African
biology.protein
business
Trypanosoma Brucei Gambiense
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 19352735 and 19352727
- Volume :
- 15
- Issue :
- 9
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....01768d5ca6eb22ffa013f11a20e144f3