FUNCTIONAL-STUDIES ON PURIFIED EOSINOPHILS AND NEUTROPHILS FROM PATIENTS WITH SCHISTOSOMA-MANSONI INFECTIONS

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 39  (3) , 683-694
Abstract
Unpurified peripheral blood leukocytes or purified eosinophils and neutrophils from patients with schistosomiasis and from normal individuals were compared for their ability to interact with antibody coated schistosomula of S. mansoni. There was no difference in the ability of buffy coat cells or neutrophils from patients and from normal individuals to mediate antibody-dependent 51Cr release from labeled schistosomula. Eosinophils from patients were significantly better than those from normal individuals in causing antibody-dependent 51Cr release. This enhanced activity of eosinophils from patients with schistosomiasis correlated with the intensity of their infection as judged by fecal egg counts. Eosinophils from patients contained a higher proportion of cells with detectable Fc receptors than those from normal individuals. The difference in the behavior of eosinophils from patients and from normals may reflect an ''activated'' state of these cells in the infected individuals.