Impact of Wuchereria bancrofti infection on cervical mucosal immunity and human papillomavirus prevalence in women from Lindi and Mbeya regions, Tanzania

Title : Impact of Wuchereria bancrofti infection on cervical mucosal immunity and human papillomavirus prevalence in women from Lindi and Mbeya regions, Tanzania

Abstract:

Introduction: Wuchereria bancrofti (WB) is a mosquito-borne pathogen that causes lymphatic filariasis. However, WB is not known to cause lesions in the genital mucosa. We had previously described an increased incidence of HIV in individuals infected with WB. To investigate the augmented susceptibility to HIV, we compared T cell phenotypes between WB+ and WB-women. 

Methods: Sixty-two women underwent screening for cervical cancer and PCR testing for human high-risk papillomavirus (HR HPV). Flow cytometric analysis of activation and differentiation markers on CD4 T cells as well as HIV entry receptor CCR5 was performed on cervical and peripheral blood samples of 54 women living without HIV (WLWoH), 28 of them infected with WB. 

Results: WB infection was associated with significantly increased frequency of CD3+γδ2+ T cells in the cervical mucosa (median 4.01% vs 1.36%, p=0.012). Contrary to our expectations, we tended to find lower frequencies of CCR5 on total CD4, memory CD4 T cells and activated memory CD4 T cells in the WB+ group compared to the WB- women. However, this was no longer apparent after age and site of recruitment were taken into account. Prevalence of HR-HPV was 38.5% (5/13) in WLWH, 37.0% (10/27) in WB+ WLWoH and 14.0% (3/22) in WB- WLWoH. The multivariable regression analysis showed that WB and HIV infections were associated with a 3.8- and 3.2-fold increase in HPV risk, respectively (WB status: p=0.058; HIV status: p = 0.057).

Conclusion: WB infection is associated with an increase in the expression of CD3+γδ2+ T cells, suggesting an immunological mechanism by which WB infection increases the risk for other infections, albeit independent of the CCR5 receptor. Furthermore, WB and HIV infections independently showed a trend towards an increase in the prevalence of HR HPV infection. 

Biography:

Maureen Moraa Mosoba is a seasoned medical doctor experienced in the areas of obstetrics and gynecology, infectious disease and tropical medicine currently enrolled as a doctoral student at the Center for International health, Ludwig Maximillian University, University Hospital, Munich, Germany, working at the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), Tanzania. Her PhD project is on dissecting the immunological mechanism through which filarial nematode organisms alter the host immune response in the female reproductive tract consequently increasing the risk for HIV infection and the prevalence of high-risk human papillomavirus (HR HPV). During her PhD studies, she has been privileged to work under the supervision of world class expert immunologists who are involved in ground breaking research in the areas of HR HPV and HIV in Africa and are also alumni of HAVARD and LMU Universities. She has gained knowledge and experience not only in immunology per se, but also in the technical aspect that involves advanced flow cytometric analysis of immunological parameters using state of the art technology. While working in NIMR, she has been actively engaged in several clinical trials and research studies sponsored by the Deutsche Forshungsgemeinschaft under a German-based consortium in collaboration with NIMR, from the stage of proposal development, screening and enrollment, data and sample collection, data analysis and curation to manuscript writing. It is her vision to continue working in collaboration with global partners in the areas of neglected tropical diseases, HPV and HIV under the auspices of NIMR and other research organizations.