AUTHOR=Adalid-Peralta Laura , Lopez-Roblero Alexander , Camacho-Vázquez Cynthia , Nájera-Ocampo Marisol , Guevara-Salinas Adrián , Ruiz-Monroy Nataly , Melo-Salas Marlene , Morales-Ruiz Valeria , López-Recinos Dina , Ortiz-Hernández Edgar , Demengeot Jocelyne , Vazquez-Perez Joel A. , Arce-Sillas Asiel , Gomez-Fuentes Sandra , Parkhouse Robert Michael Evans , Fragoso Gladis , Sciutto Edda , Sevilla-Reyes Edgar E. TITLE=Regulatory T Cells as an Escape Mechanism to the Immune Response in Taenia crassiceps Infection JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology VOLUME=11 YEAR=2021 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2021.630583 DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2021.630583 ISSN=2235-2988 ABSTRACT=

Murine cysticercosis by Taenia crassiceps is a model for human neurocysticercosis. Genetic and/or immune differences may underlie the higher susceptibility to infection in BALB/cAnN with respect to C57BL/6 mice. T regulatory cells (Tregs) could mediate the escape of T. crassiceps from the host immunity. This study is aimed to investigate the role of Tregs in T. crassiceps establishment in susceptible and non-susceptible mouse strains. Treg and effector cells were quantified in lymphoid organs before infection and 5, 30, 90, and 130 days post-infection. The proliferative response post-infection was characterized in vitro. The expression of regulatory and inflammatory molecules was assessed on days 5 and 30 post-infection. Depletion assays were performed to assess Treg functionality. Significantly higher Treg percentages were observed in BALB/cAnN mice, while increased percentages of activated CD127+ cells were found in C57BL/6 mice. The proliferative response was suppressed in susceptible mice, and Treg proliferation occurred only in susceptible mice. Treg-mediated suppression mechanisms may include IL-10 and TGFβ secretion, granzyme- and perforin-mediated cytolysis, metabolic disruption, and cell-to-cell contact. Tregs are functional in BALB/cAnN mice. Therefore Tregs could be allowing parasite establishment and survival in susceptible mice but could play a homeostatic role in non-susceptible strains.