BMC Immunology最新文献

{"title":"Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of Iguratimod combined with traditional anti-rheumatic drugs in treating rheumatoid arthritis: a retrospective study.","authors":"Xueqin Chen, Zongwen Shuai, Jiangli Xia, Xixi Ma, Linwei Hu","doi":"10.1186/s12865-026-00879-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12865-026-00879-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that may lead to progressive joint damage and disability. Although methotrexate is a first-line treatment, some patients have inadequate responses or adverse reactions. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of methotrexate combined with iguratimod versus methotrexate monotherapy in patients with RA.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Based on existing medical records, the clinical data of 80 patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated at our hospital between October 2021 and October 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. This was a single-center, retrospective, non-randomized controlled study, and the investigators were not involved in treatment allocation. According to the actual treatment regimens documented in the medical records, patients were divided into a conventional treatment group, which received methotrexate, and a combination treatment group, which received methotrexate plus iguratimod. Treatment efficacy, bone metabolism, CRP, RF, ESR, immune function, and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups. As the treatment regimens were not randomly assigned, the findings were mainly used to evaluate the associations between different treatment regimens and clinical outcomes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The combination therapy group demonstrated significantly higher response rates for ACR20, ACR50, ACR70 and considerably higher levels of N-MID and T-PINP than the conventional treatment group following treatment. This group demonstrated significantly decreased levels of β-CTX, CRP, RF, and ESR compared to the conventional treatment group (p < 0.05). After treatment, except for the similar changes in CD4 + and CD8 + levels, the levels of IgG, IgA, and IgM in the combination treatment group were significantly lower than the conventional treatment group (p < 0.05). The combination therapy group showed a more significant drop in DAS28 values than conventional treatment group (p < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in adverse effects (p > 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In this single-center retrospective study, compared with methotrexate monotherapy, methotrexate combined with iguratimod was associated with higher ACR20, ACR50, and ACR70 response rates, as well as greater improvements in inflammatory markers, bone metabolism indicators, and DAS28 scores, without a significant increase in the incidence of adverse reactions. However, because this study used a non-randomized design and did not include propensity score matching, the findings should be further validated in prospective randomized controlled trials.</p>","PeriodicalId":9040,"journal":{"name":"BMC Immunology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13670774/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148454527","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Correction: Reduced peripheral natural killer cell counts may be a predictive marker for cesarean scar pregnancy.","authors":"Ye Shen, Jinqiu Zhang, Hua Fang, Li Zhang, Qi Jiang, Hua Gong, Qi Chen, Min Zhao","doi":"10.1186/s12865-026-00876-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12865-026-00876-y","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":9040,"journal":{"name":"BMC Immunology","volume":"27 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13366690/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148444224","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficacy of the combination of antimicrobial therapy with immunomodulators in the management of immunological female infertility due to anti-sperm antibodies associated with bacterial vaginosis during unexplained infertility: double-blind factorial randomised controlled trial.","authors":"Mike-Antoine Maindo Alongo, Salomon Batina Agasa, Noël Labama Otuli, Jean-Jeannot Juakali Sihalikyolo, Sarah Missimbu Mayindu, Bienvenu Antony Ilongosi, Louise Bamawa Bahaisi, Justin Ntokamunda Kadima, Katenga Bosunga","doi":"10.1186/s12865-026-00875-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12865-026-00875-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Unexplained infertility (UI) is a subject of major concern in reproduction and can be associated with bacterial vaginosis (BV) and/or antisperm antibodies (ASA), yet therapeutic strategies for these conditions in resource-limited settings are poorly defined. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of immunomodulators compared with placebo following antimicrobial therapy among infertile women with UI linked to ASA and BV.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This double-blind, 2 × 3 factorial randomised controlled trial was conducted at a tertiary referral hospital in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo. 123 women with UI, positive ASA, and BV were randomised to receive either metronidazole alone or combined antimicrobial therapy (metronidazole, clotrimazole, and clindamycin) for Factor 1, followed by prednisolone, zinc acetate, or placebo (paracetamol 100 mg) for Factor 2. The primary outcome was time to clinical pregnancy within six months, analysed in the modified intention-to-treat population as a time-to-event endpoint using Kaplan-Meier methods, the log-rank test, and Cox proportional hazards models. The study protocol was initially approved by the provincial health district ethics committee (701/FBL/DPS/TSHOPO/SEC/0173/2023). The trial has been retrospectively registered with the Pan African Clinical Trials Registry on 08 October 2024 under the identifier PACTR202410672612184.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 123 participants, immunomodulators significantly increased clinical pregnancy rates compared with placebo (38.55% vs. 12.5%; aHR = 3.43 [1.34-8.81]; p = 0.010). Adjusted analyses showed significantly higher pregnancy rates for both zinc acetate (40.48%; aHR 3.46 [1.27-9.40]; p = 0.012) and prednisolone (36.59%; aHR 2.75 [1.01-7.68]; p = 0.027) compared with placebo, with no significant difference between the two active agents (p = 0.623). Combined antimicrobial therapy was superior to metronidazole alone in achieving therapeutic BV cure at visit 2 (58.06% vs. 37.7%; RR 1.52 [1.04-2.22]; p = 0.023) and, at the margins of the factorial design, was associated with a higher cumulative conception rate (aHR 2.20 [1.09-4.43]; p = 0.027). The Factor 1 × Factor 2 interaction was not statistically significant (likelihood-ratio p = 0.59). While the overall incidence of adverse events was comparable between zinc (16.67%) and prednisolone (21.95%) (p = 0.541), zinc acetate was associated with significantly higher patient-reported tolerance (p = 0.007).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Sequential treatment involving combined antimicrobial therapy followed by immunomodulation significantly improves clinical pregnancy rates in women with UI associated with BV and ASA. Zinc acetate offers an effective and better-tolerated alternative to prednisolone for this indication.</p>","PeriodicalId":9040,"journal":{"name":"BMC Immunology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13613735/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148434994","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Deciphering the role of SNP variants of co-stimulatory genes in systemic lupus erythematosus: from genotype to protein expression.","authors":"Ding-Ping Chen, Gem Huai-Chueh Wu, Wei-Tzu Lin, Kuang-Hui Yu","doi":"10.1186/s12865-026-00861-5","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12865-026-00861-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease in which genetic susceptibility contributes to immune dysregulation and increased disease risk. However, the specific mechanisms by which these SNPs influence gene and protein expression and ultimately affect disease pathology remain unclear. Thus, this study integrated genotype and protein expression results to thoroughly investigate the influence of genetic variation on the immune mechanisms underlying systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 38 SLE patients and 34 healthy controls were included in this study. The cell percentage and expression level of CD28, CTLA-4, and PD-1 on the CD3⁺CD4⁺ cells were assessed by flow cytometry, in which phytohemagglutinin, interleukin-7, and interleukin-2 were used to stimulate cells to detect CTLA-4 and PD-1. Associations between SNP genotypes and protein expression or cell proportions were subsequently evaluated using the Mann-Whitney U test, with significance at p = 0.017. Finally, the data were integrated with our previous functional analyses of SNPs to elucidate the role of co-stimulatory gene variants in SLE.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The GT genotype of the CD28 rs1879877 was associated with increased CD3⁺CD28⁺ expression (p = 0.017) exclusively in patients with SLE. Additionally, the TT genotype of the CTLA4 rs733618 was associated with increased cell percentage (p = 0.007 in SLE group and 0.011 in combined group), and the TT genotype of rs16840252 were associated with increased CTLA-4 expression (p = 0.004) in the resting status. Furthermore, the CC genotype of rs36084323 and the GG genotype of rs2227982 were associated with increased PD-1 expression in the SLE group (p = 0.014) and combined group (p = 0.002 and 0.001). Notably, rs36084323 and rs2227982 consistently correlated strongly with increased PD-1 expression after stimulation (p = 0.002 and 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings highlight that SNPs in the CTLA4 and PDCD1 genes act as general regulatory variants, while only CD28 rs1879877 appears to have an enhanced effect on CD28 expression specifically under the SLE disease condition. Additionally, the rs733618 and rs36084323 SNPs were associated with SLE and exhibited significant differences in transcriptional activity.</p>","PeriodicalId":9040,"journal":{"name":"BMC Immunology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148434919","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinical characteristics and risk factors of cytomegalovirus infection in patients with good syndrome.","authors":"Qi Chen, Ruxuan Chen, Yujie Shi, Shiyang Wang, Zhiyi Li, Yupei Zhang, Chi Shao, Hui Huang","doi":"10.1186/s12865-026-00882-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12865-026-00882-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Good Syndrome (GS) is a rare immunodeficiency disorder classically defined by the triad of thymoma, hypogammaglobulinemia, and recurrent infections. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is the most frequently reported viral infection in patients with GS. This study aimed to characterize the clinical features and immunological alterations in patients with GS complicated by CMV infection.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a retrospective cohort study of GS patients with or without CMV infection at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2015 to December 2024. Logistic regression and COX proportional hazards regression model were employed to identify potential risk factors for CMV infection and prognostic factors of overall survival among GS patients.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among the 27 enrolled patients, 15 developed CMV infection: 1 presented with CMV pneumonia, 6 was clinically diagnosed with CMV pneumonia, 6 with isolated CMV DNAemia, 1 with CMV colitis, and 1 with CMV retinitis. Peripheral blood CD4 + T-cell counts were significantly lower in the CMV group than non-CMV group (156 [116-210] vs. 374 [200-443] cells/µL; P < 0.05). The CMV group exhibited a higher rate of glucocorticoid (GC) use, greater cumulative GC exposure prior to diagnosis, and higher frequencies of respiratory pathogen isolation and fungal infection compared with the non-CMV group. Multivariable logistic regression identified lower serum albumin (P = 0.012; OR, 0.743; 95% CI: 0.58-0.938) and lower serum IgG (P = 0.041; OR, 0.565; 95% CI: 0.327-0.978) as potential risk factors for CMV infection in GS patients.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>GS patients with CMV infection exhibited lower lymphocyte counts, higher glucocorticoid administration rate and increased susceptibility to respiratory and opportunistic fungal infections. During active CMV infection, these patients consistently displayed CD8⁺ T-cell lymphocytosis. Hypoalbuminemia and low serum IgG were associated with an increased risk of CMV infection. However, it is important to emphasize that the factors identified in our study apply to the broad definition of CMV infection and may not specifically predict end-organ disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":9040,"journal":{"name":"BMC Immunology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13659960/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148418510","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"IL-37a facilitates allergen immunotherapy in a house dust mite-induced mouse model of allergic asthma.","authors":"Zheng Jin, Xiaopeng Jing, Ji Zeng, Zhenhua Zhu","doi":"10.1186/s12865-026-00869-x","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12865-026-00869-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In recent years, the incidence of allergic asthma has increased dramatically. Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is an effective approach to achieve long-term remission of allergic asthma and has gained widespread attention. However, current AIT suffers from low efficacy and long treatment duration. In this study, we found that IL-37a transgenic mice with allergic asthma exhibited reduced pulmonary inflammation, decreased Th2 cytokines, and lower allergen-specific IgE following AIT. Mechanistic studies revealed increased IL-37⁺ Bregs, suggesting that IL-37a may promote AIT through Bregs. Our study demonstrates the promoting effect of IL-37 in allergen immunotherapy and suggests that Bregs may underlie this mechanism, providing insights for overcoming the limitations of AIT in the future.</p>","PeriodicalId":9040,"journal":{"name":"BMC Immunology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13670632/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148418593","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cetuximab combination with cytokine induced killer cells effectively inhibit conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma in vitro.","authors":"Hossein Aghaei, Mehdi Khakpour, Samaneh Dehghan, Ali Ghamari, Alireza Shoae-Hassani","doi":"10.1186/s12865-026-00877-x","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12865-026-00877-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We explored the potential effects of the anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody Cetuximab when combined with activated cytokine-induced killer cells (CIKs) as a novel treatment strategy for human conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma (CSCCs) in vitro. The CSCC used in our study was obtained from an explant of a patient diagnosed with the condition. After molecular and pathological confirmations, the CSCC was established as proliferating and confluent cultures and was exposed continuously for seven days to different concentrations of Cetuximab (10^-3-10³ µg/mL) and different ratios of CIKs. CIK cells were cultured with a high dose of IL-2 and the cell population contained activated CD3 + , CD16 + , and CD56 + cells. CIK cells alone exhibited cytotoxicity toward EGFR-positive CSCC whereas Cetuximab alone exhibited limited cytotoxic efficacy. Final counts of CSCC measured on days 1 and 7 after exposure demonstrated over 95% suppression of proliferating CSCC at a Cetuximab concentration of 10² µg/mL, with a CIKs ratio of 50:01 (Effector:Target). Meanwhile, the confluent normal limbal stem cells were largely unaffected. This particular anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody could be beneficial in treating proliferative ocular epithelial conditions, including squamous cell carcinoma of the ocular surface.</p>","PeriodicalId":9040,"journal":{"name":"BMC Immunology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13660011/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148418558","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Predictive value of miR-151a-3p for the onset of sepsis-induced acute kidney injury and its functional role during disease development.","authors":"Yongyang Tian, Haiyuan Zhu, Jinhui Wang, Lilin Wang, Li Liu, Xiao Gui","doi":"10.1186/s12865-026-00844-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12865-026-00844-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (SA-AKI) is a significant clinical challenge due to its prevalence in intensive care units. This study evaluated the diagnostic utility of serum miR-151a-3p for SA-AKI, aiming to provide new insights into early diagnosis and mechanistic research.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Serum miR-151a-3p levels were determined via qRT-PCR and assessed for clinical correlations (Pearson correlation), risk association with SA-AKI (logistic regression), and diagnostic efficacy (ROC curve analysis). In vitro, the injury model was constructed by inducing TCMK-1 cells with LPS, and the miR-151a-3p mimic was transfected to observe its effects on inflammatory and oxidative stress. Finally, a binding relationship between miR-151a-3p and AKT3 was validated by employing both bioinformatics and dual-luciferase assay.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In SA-AKI patients, miR-151a-3p was significantly decreased, and its expression level showed a significant negative correlation with disease severity and representative indicators of renal function. MiR-151a-3p is an independent protective factor for SA-AKI, with an AUC of 0.883 for predicting SA-AKI. In vitro experiments confirmed that overexpression of miR-151a-3p significantly alleviated LPS-induced inflammatory responses and oxidative stress damage. The dual-luciferase assay confirmed the binding relationship between AKT3 and miR-151a-3p.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>MiR-151a-3p is closely related to the severity of SA-AKI. It can be used as a potential biomarker for the early prediction of the occurrence of SA-AKI. Overexpression of miR-151a-3p alleviates LPS-induced renal tubular epithelial cell injury.</p>","PeriodicalId":9040,"journal":{"name":"BMC Immunology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13540948/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148395838","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Inflammatory responses in HIV-1 genetic subtypes in relationship with anti-retroviral drug resistance in Minna, Niger State, North Central Nigeria.","authors":"Ndukwe Arua Kalu, Mathew Folaranmi Olaniyan, Pius Omoruyi Omosigho, Bukhari Isah Shuaib, Ewean Chukwuma Omoruyi, Isah Sadiq Yelwa, Iyare Godfrey Innocent, Chinedu Udechukwu Aka-Okeke, Aliyu Mohammed Abdullahi, Ibrahim Alhaji Adamu","doi":"10.1186/s12865-026-00871-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12865-026-00871-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The high genetic diversity of HIV-1, persistent immune activation and rising antiretroviral drug resistance continue to hinder HIV treatment, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study examined inflammatory responses in relation to HIV-1 genetic subtypes and antiretroviral drug (ARVD) resistance among patients experiencing virological failure in Minna, Niger State, Nigeria.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>A cross-sectional design involved people living with HIV-1 (PLWH-1) on ART with virological failure (defined as repeated viral load ≥ 1000 copies/mL). Plasma levels of IL-6, IL-10, hs-CRP, and TNF-α were assessed as markers of inflammation; CD4 + counts and viral load served as immune and virological indicators. Genotypic analysis targeting the HIV-1 protease and reverse transcriptase regions was performed to identify subtypes and resistance mutations.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>HIV-1 subtypes G and CRF02_AG predominated. Subtype G was linked to elevated TNF-α and IL-6 levels and a higher frequency of drug resistance mutations, suggesting subtype-specific polymorphisms and elevated pro-inflammatory markers which correlated with poor treatment outcomes. Co-infections with HBV, HCV, and Mtb were also common, especially among individuals with heightened inflammatory markers and virological failure, complicating disease progression. IL-6, IL-10, hs-CRP, and TNF-α emerged as potential surrogate biomarkers for predicting virological failure and immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings underscore the importance of integrating inflammatory profiling and genotypic resistance testing to inform clinical decisions and improve ART outcomes. A personalized approach to HIV care, accounting for viral subtype, immune-inflammatory status, and resistance patterns are recommended to enhance treatment efficacy and reduce HIV-related morbidity and mortality in resource-limited settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":9040,"journal":{"name":"BMC Immunology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-06-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13621496/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148350569","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"IL-17A and IFN-α associated with female genital schistosomiasis lesions.","authors":"Edmond François Tchago, Chris Marco Mbianda Nana, André Tchoffo Kemlong, Clauvis Ngainang, Eto Darlhin Tertullien, Albert Bayibeki, Rosette Megnekou","doi":"10.1186/s12865-026-00874-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12865-026-00874-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) remains an underdiagnosed consequence of Schistosoma haematobium (S. haematobium) infection, with limited understanding of its associated immunological responses. This study investigated the prevalence of FGS-related cervical lesions and their relationship with systemic cytokine profiles, as well as soluble immune activation biomarkers, among women living in endemic areas of Cameroon.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study was conducted between November-December 2023 and May-June 2024, in two endemic municipalities in Cameroon. Sexually active women were screened for S. haematobium infection using urine filtration microscopy. Cervical examination and digital imaging were performed to document FGS-associated lesions, which were classified into neovascularization (NVA), grainy sandy patches (GS), yellow sandy patches (YS), and rubbery papules (RP). Blood samples were collected and plasma concentrations of cytokines (IFN-α, TNF-α, IL-10, IL-13, IL-17A, IL-33) and soluble immune activation biomarkers (sCD25, sCD163) were quantified using a magnetic Luminex assay.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 218 women agreed to participate in this study, of whom 54 (24.8%) were infected with S. haematobium. Infected women presented significantly higher proportions of FGS (81.5%), NVA (53.7%), GS (42.6%), YS (7.4%), and RP (9.3%) compared with uninfected women (0.61%-13.4%; p ≤ 0.014). Itching and pelvic pain were not associated with the presence of FGS-related cervical lesions. S. haematobium infection was associated with increased plasma levels of IL-17A (p = 0.039). Women with FGS, NVA, and GS lesions exhibited significantly higher IL-17A and IFN-α concentrations (0.0001 ≤ p ≤ 0.039). IL-17A levels strongly correlated positively with NVA (r_s = 0.568, p < 0.0001), while levels of IFN-α correlated with both NVA (r_s = 0.390, p < 0.0001) and GS (r_s = 0.500, p < 0.0001). Interesting, the immune activation biomarker sCD25 negatively and significantly correlated with RP (r_s=-0,228, p = 0,042).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>S. haematobium infection is associated with FGS-related cervical lesions, which occur independently of common symptoms such as itching or pelvic pain. Elevated IL-17A and IFN-α levels and their strong correlation with lesion types suggest that these cytokines may play key roles in FGS immunopathogenesis. These findings highlight the need to improve screening strategies by taking into account immunological markers to better detect and manage FGS in endemic areas.</p>","PeriodicalId":9040,"journal":{"name":"BMC Immunology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13584567/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148326737","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}