RESUMEN
The effect of the intensity of infection (eggs per gram faeces, epg) on the production of interferon-gamma (INF-gamma), interleukin (IL)-10 and IL-13 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from individuals living in a Schistosoma mansoni-endemic area was evaluated. In vitro stimulation of PBMCs with soluble egg antigen (SEA) resulted in significantly higher secretion levels of IFN-gamma in egg-negative individuals compared with those with an intensity of infection of more than 100 epg. In contrast, the egg-positive group produced significantly higher amounts of IL-10. Levels of IL-13 did not differ significantly between egg-positive and egg-negative groups. These findings suggest that IL-10 is an important cytokine in the control of the T helper cell (Th) type 1 responses during human S. mansoni infection, shifting the immune response from Th0 in egg-negative individuals from an endemic area to a Th2 polarization in chronic infected individuals.
Asunto(s)
Antígenos Helmínticos/inmunología , Interferón gamma/biosíntesis , Interleucina-10/biosíntesis , Interleucina-13/biosíntesis , Esquistosomiasis mansoni/inmunología , Adulto , Factores de Edad , Animales , Brasil/epidemiología , Células Cultivadas , Susceptibilidad a Enfermedades/inmunología , Enfermedades Endémicas , Humanos , Interferón gamma/inmunología , Interleucina-10/inmunología , Interleucina-13/inmunología , Leucocitos Mononucleares/inmunología , Schistosoma mansoni/inmunología , Esquistosomiasis mansoni/epidemiología , Índice de Severidad de la EnfermedadRESUMEN
Specific IgG4 and IgE responses to adult worm antigen and soluble egg antigen (SEA) were examined in 267 individuals from an area in which schistosomiasis mansoni is endemic. Based on information obtained from clinical and sonographic examinations of this sample, the individuals were divided in three groups: 1) 204 individuals without periportal fibrosis, and liver and spleen enlargements; 2) 41 individuals without periportal fibrosis, but presenting with organopathy, with or without organomegaly; and 3) 22 individuals with periportal fibrosis, regardless of their status as having hepatomegaly and/or splenomegaly. Levels of IgG4 to SEA were significantly higher in sera from patients with fibrosis compared with the patients from the other two groups. We also found significantly higher levels of IgG4 against SEA in egg-negative patients with fibrosis compared with egg-negative patients from the other two groups. This report demonstrates a specific humoral response in patients presenting with initial fibrosis, a form of schistosomiasis transient between intestinal and severe hepatosplenic.