Plasmodium sporozoites induce regulatory macrophages

B. atrice M. F. Winkel, Leonard R. Pelgrom, Roos van Schuijlenburg, Els Baalbergen, Munisha S. Ganesh, Heleen Gerritsma, Clarize M. de Korne, Nikolas Duszenko, Marijke C. C. Langenberg, S. verine C. Chevalley-Maurel, Hermelijn H. Smits, Esther C. de Jong, Bart Everts, Blandine Franke-Fayard, Meta Roestenberg

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs), like macrophages (Mϕs) and dendritic cells (DCs), are central players in the induction of natural and vaccine-induced immunity to malaria, yet very little is known about the interaction of SPZ with human APCs. Intradermal delivery of whole-sporozoite vaccines reduces their effectivity, possibly due to dermal immunoregulatory effects. Therefore, understanding these interactions could prove pivotal to malaria vaccination. We investigated human APC responses to recombinant circumsporozoite protein (recCSP), SPZ and anti-CSP opsonized SPZ both in monocyte derived MoDCs and MoMϕs. Both MoDCs and MoMϕs readily took up recCSP but did not change phenotype or function upon doing so. SPZ are preferentially phagocytosed by MoMϕs instead of DCs and phagocytosis greatly increased after opsonization. Subsequently MoMϕs show increased surface marker expression of activation markers as well as tolerogenic markers such as Programmed Death-Ligand 1 (PD-L1). Additionally they show reduced motility, produce interleukin 10 and suppressed interferon gamma (IFNγ) production by antigen specific CD8+ T cells. Importantly, we investigated phenotypic responses to SPZ in primary dermal APCs isolated from human skin explants, which respond similarly to their monocyte-derived counterparts. These findings are a first step in enhancing our understanding of pre-erythrocytic natural immunity and the pitfalls of intradermal vaccination-induced immunity.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbere1008799
Pages (from-to)e1008799
JournalPLoS pathogens
Volume16
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Sept 2020

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