title: Association of symptomatic human infection with Toxoplasma gondii with imbalance of monocytes and antigen-specific T cell subsets.
abstract: During recent symptomatic toxoplasmosis, alterations in quantity and function of mononuclear cells in peripheral blood were observed. Flow cytofluorometric analysis and differential leukocyte counts revealed increased absolute numbers of T8+ cells, Leu 7+ (natural killer/killer) cells, and monocytes. T4+ cells and HLA-DR+ cells were not significantly changed. T4/T8 cell ratios were reversed in symptomatic toxoplasmosis (0.7 +/- 0.3) and normal in chronic infection (1.7 +/- 0.5). Toxoplasma antigen induced higher numbers of T8+ and TQ1+ cells in four T cell lines from two individuals with symptomatic infection than in five T cell lines from three individuals with asymptomatic infection. Eight cloned T cell lines produced gamma interferon in an antigen-specific fashion and in higher amounts when they originated from an asymptomatic subject than from a symptomatic subject. These results indicate that marked alterations in properties of immunoregulatory cells are characteristic of recent symptomatic toxoplasmosis. The transient immune dysfunction may be a major part of the observed disease and/or a feature of successful parasitism.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D007700:Kinetics; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D009000:Monocytes; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D007371:Interferon-gamma