Trichomonas vaginalis (T. vaginalis)
infection leads to the synthesis of specific
antibodies in the serum and local secretions. The profile of T. vaginalis-specific
antibodies and T cell-mediated immune responses may influence the outcome of
infection, towards parasite elimination, persistence or pathological reactions. Studies have indicated that Th1-, Th17- and Th22 cell-related
cytokines may be protective or pathogenic, whereas Th2- and Treg cell-related
cytokines can exert anti-inflammatory effects during T. vaginalis
infection. A number of T. vaginalis-related components such as
lipophosphoglycan (TvLPG), α-
actinin, migration inhibitory factor (TvMIF),
pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PFO), legumain-1 (TvLEGU-1), adhesins and
cysteine proteases lead to the induction of specific
antibodies. T. vaginalis has acquired several strategies to evade the humoral immune responses such as degradation of
immunoglobulins by
cysteine proteases, antigenic variation and killing of antibody-producing B cells. The characterization of the T. vaginalis-specific
antibodies to significant immunogenic molecules and formulation of strategies to promote their induction in vaginal mucosa may reveal their potential protective effects against
trichomoniasis. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of antibody and T cell-mediated immune responses to T. vaginalis and highlight novel insights into the possible role of immune responses in protection against parasite.