In vitro production of cytokines by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from hydatid patients.
The role of cytokines in human hydatidosis (Echinococcus granulosus infection) was evaluated in immunoassays determining production of IL-4, IL-10 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cultures from 30 hydatid patients and 14 uninfected controls. In cell cultures from hydatid patients parasite and non-parasite antigen stimulation significantly increased IL-4 production (P < or 0.005). Spontaneous and mitogen-driven IL-4 production was similar in patients and controls. IL-10 and IFN-gamma production did not differ statistically in the two groups, even though some hydatid patients produced these cytokines in large amounts. Notably, antigen-driven IFN-gamma concentrations were invariably higher in patients than in uninfected controls. Data analysis showed a relationship between IgE and IgG4 responses and parasite-driven cytokine production. High IgE and IgG4 responders produced high IL-4 and IL-10 concentrations. High IgE responders showed decreased IFN-gamma production, but high IgG4 responders had IFN-gamma levels slightly higher than those of low responders. Cytokine response patterns did not relate to the clinical stage of disease. The significantly increased IL-4 and the high IL-10 concentrations found in PBMC from many hydatid patients in this study are consistent with Th2 cell activation in human hydatidosis. The presence of antigen-driven IFN-gamma production in patients with E. granulosus infection implies concurrent intervention of the Th1 or Th0 cell subset.
Riganò
R
R
Laboratorio di Immunologia, Instituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
Profumo
E
E
Di Felice
G
G
Ortona
E
E
Teggi
A
A
Siracusano
A
A
D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000145:classification; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D016207:Cytokines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma