RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INTENSITY OF INFECTION AND IMMUNOMODULATION IN HUMAN SCHISTOSOMIASIS .2. NK CELL-ACTIVITY AND INVITRO LYMPHOCYTE-PROLIFERATION

  • 1 January 1985
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 60  (2) , 234-240
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cell activity against K-562 targets and lymphoproliferative responses to Concanvalin A (Con A), interleukin-2 (IL-2) and Con A + IL-2 were examined in a group of 41 Sudanese children suffering from schistosomiasis mansoni and haematobium. The results were correlated to the infection as determined by enumeration of parasite ova in urine and stool. NK cell activity measured at 3 effector to target cell ratios was significantly depressed in the patient group as compared to a German control group. Impairment of NK cell activity showed a direct relationship with the patients'' parasite load. Lymphoproliferation to Con A, IL-2 and Con A + IL-2 was depressed in the group of patients. The costimulation effect of IL-2 expressed as coefficient of .DELTA.cpm(Con A + IL-2) .DELTA.cpmCon A correlated significantly to the intensity of infection, suggesting that lymphocytes from heavily infected patients were defective in producing appropriate amounts of IL-2 in response to Con A. Heavy infections with Schistosoma mansoni and/or S. haematobium induce a peculiar dichotomy of cellular and humoral immune parameters. Whereas T cell-dependent cellular immune responsiveness and NK cell function decrease with increasing worm burden, specific IgE and IgG antibody responses increase.

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