Chronic heat stress inhibits immune responses to H5N1 vaccination through regulating CD4⁺ CD25⁺ Foxp3⁺ Tregs.

Abstract

Chronic heat stress (CHS) is known to have negative impacts on the immune responses in animals and increases their susceptibility to infections including the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1. However, the role of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in CHS immunosuppression remains largely undefined. In this study, we demonstrated a novel mechanism by which CHS suppressed both Th1 and Th2 immune responses and dramatically decreased the protective efficacy of the formalin-inactivated H5N1 vaccine against H5N1 influenza virus infection. This suppression was found to be associated with the induced generation of CD4⁺ CD25⁺ Foxp3⁺ Tregs and the increased secretions of IL-10 and TGF- β in CD4⁺ T cells. Adoptive transfer of the induced Tregs also suppressed the protective efficacy of formalin-inactivated H5N1 virus immunization. Collectively, this study identifies a novel mechanism of CHS immunosuppression mediated by regulating CD4⁺ CD25⁺ Foxp3⁺ Tregs.

• Authors: Di Meng, Yanxin Hu, Chong Xiao, Tangting Wei, Qiang Zou, Ming Wang
• Journal: BioMed research international (Biomed Res Int) Vol. 2013 Pg. 160859 ( 2013) ISSN: 2314-6141 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24151582 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• FOXP3 protein, human
• Forkhead Transcription Factors
• IL2RA protein, human
• Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit
• Transforming Growth Factor beta

Topics

• CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes (immunology, metabolism)
• Forkhead Transcription Factors (immunology, metabolism)
• Heat-Shock Response (immunology)
• Hot Temperature
• Humans
• Immunosuppression Therapy
• Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype (immunology, pathogenicity)
• Influenza, Human (metabolism, pathology, virology)
• Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit (immunology, metabolism)
• T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory (immunology, metabolism)
• Transforming Growth Factor beta (immunology, metabolism)
• Vaccination