Immune mechanisms mediating the heterologous effects of BCG vaccination: a systematic review
IntroductionBCG vaccination can have heterologous or non-specific effects (NSE) that confer resistance against pathogens other than its target Mycobacterium tuberculosis, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood.MethodsWe conducted a systematic review synthesising existing literature o...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-05-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Immunology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1567111/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849310320499097600 |
|---|---|
| author | Louis Torracinta Nino Gogichadze Rachel Tanner |
| author_facet | Louis Torracinta Nino Gogichadze Rachel Tanner |
| author_sort | Louis Torracinta |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionBCG vaccination can have heterologous or non-specific effects (NSE) that confer resistance against pathogens other than its target Mycobacterium tuberculosis, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood.MethodsWe conducted a systematic review synthesising existing literature on immune mechanisms mediating the heterologous/NSE of BCG. Searches were conducted using MEDLINE and Scopus.Results1032 original records were identified, of which 67 were deemed eligible. Several potentially relevant immune pathways were identified, although there may be variation by pathogen. Recent studies have focused on trained immunity whereby innate cells, or the hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells from which they are derived, undergo epigenetic and metabolic reprogramming allowing them to respond more effectively to antigen exposures unrelated to the original stimulus. However, other processes such as granulopoiesis and cross-reactive adaptive immunity may also play a role. Heterologous immunity and NSEs may be influenced by several endogenous and exogenous variables.DiscussionWe discuss the quality of available data, the importance of understanding mechanisms of heterologous protection, and its implications for vaccination strategies.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42023400375, identifier CRD42023400375. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e34945a2f6fe43e7bce749ab4d6ec061 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-3224 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Immunology |
| spelling | doaj-art-e34945a2f6fe43e7bce749ab4d6ec0612025-08-20T03:53:46ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-05-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.15671111567111Immune mechanisms mediating the heterologous effects of BCG vaccination: a systematic reviewLouis Torracinta0Nino Gogichadze1Rachel Tanner2Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, United KingdomExperimental Tuberculosis Unit, Microbiology Department, Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP) and Hospital (HUGTIP), Badalona, SpainDepartment of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United KingdomIntroductionBCG vaccination can have heterologous or non-specific effects (NSE) that confer resistance against pathogens other than its target Mycobacterium tuberculosis, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood.MethodsWe conducted a systematic review synthesising existing literature on immune mechanisms mediating the heterologous/NSE of BCG. Searches were conducted using MEDLINE and Scopus.Results1032 original records were identified, of which 67 were deemed eligible. Several potentially relevant immune pathways were identified, although there may be variation by pathogen. Recent studies have focused on trained immunity whereby innate cells, or the hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells from which they are derived, undergo epigenetic and metabolic reprogramming allowing them to respond more effectively to antigen exposures unrelated to the original stimulus. However, other processes such as granulopoiesis and cross-reactive adaptive immunity may also play a role. Heterologous immunity and NSEs may be influenced by several endogenous and exogenous variables.DiscussionWe discuss the quality of available data, the importance of understanding mechanisms of heterologous protection, and its implications for vaccination strategies.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42023400375, identifier CRD42023400375.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1567111/fullBCGheterologous effects of vaccinationtrained immunityT cellshumoral immunitytuberculosis |
| spellingShingle | Louis Torracinta Nino Gogichadze Rachel Tanner Immune mechanisms mediating the heterologous effects of BCG vaccination: a systematic review Frontiers in Immunology BCG heterologous effects of vaccination trained immunity T cells humoral immunity tuberculosis |
| title | Immune mechanisms mediating the heterologous effects of BCG vaccination: a systematic review |
| title_full | Immune mechanisms mediating the heterologous effects of BCG vaccination: a systematic review |
| title_fullStr | Immune mechanisms mediating the heterologous effects of BCG vaccination: a systematic review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Immune mechanisms mediating the heterologous effects of BCG vaccination: a systematic review |
| title_short | Immune mechanisms mediating the heterologous effects of BCG vaccination: a systematic review |
| title_sort | immune mechanisms mediating the heterologous effects of bcg vaccination a systematic review |
| topic | BCG heterologous effects of vaccination trained immunity T cells humoral immunity tuberculosis |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1567111/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT louistorracinta immunemechanismsmediatingtheheterologouseffectsofbcgvaccinationasystematicreview AT ninogogichadze immunemechanismsmediatingtheheterologouseffectsofbcgvaccinationasystematicreview AT racheltanner immunemechanismsmediatingtheheterologouseffectsofbcgvaccinationasystematicreview |