In vivoregulation ofS. japonicagranuloma formation by an IL-2 antagonist

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Abstract
SUMMARY: The present study shows anin vivorole for interleukin-2 in the formation of hepatic granulomatous inflammation in murineSchistosoma japonicuminfection. Mice which had been administered an inhibitor to interleukin-2 function during acute infection were noted to have reduced cell-mediated immune responses to ConA andS. japonicumsoluble egg antigen (SEA). Lymphoid tissue from these treated mice also have reduced numbers of cells which could be activated by ConA to produce interleukin-2 mRNA as shown byin situhybridization studies. Mice with less activated lymphocytes had, on the average, a 70% reduction in the granulomatous inflammation surrounding eggs deposited in hepatic tissues of acutely infected mice. The data demonstrate that IL-2 is a key factor in the generation of granulomatous inflammation inS. japonicuminfection and suggest that a potential anti-pathology vaccine could be generated based on limiting the presence of IL-2 generated during acute infection.