Protective effect of rSm28GST-specific T cells in schistosomiasis: role of gamma interferon.
Immunization with a single dose of 50 micrograms of recombinant Schistosoma mansoni 28-kDa glutathione-S-transferase (rSm28GST) was able to induce a reduction in the worm burden, the number of eggs, and the degree of hepatic fibrosis as quantified by the measurement of collagen content in the liver of S. mansoni-infected mice. No relationship was found between anti-Sm28GST immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin A titers and the levels of protection obtained. Adoptive transfers of Sm28GST-specific total, CD4+, or CD8+ T cells reproduced the protective effect obtained with the recombinant molecule. Moreover, experiments studying in vivo T-cell depletion demonstrated that anti-CD4- or anti-CD8-treated mice showed a significant decrease in the protective effect conferred, suggesting a role of the two T-cell subpopulations in the expression of Sm28GST-mediated protection against hepatic damage. Sm28GST-specific cells produced little interleukin-4 and high levels of gamma interferon. Treatment of immunized mice with anti-gamma interferon antibody totally suppressed the Sm28GST-induced protective effect and led to the rapid death of infected animals, suggesting a role for this cytokine in the expression of the protective immunity obtained after immunization with rSm28GST.
Pancre
V
V
Centre d'Immunologie et de Biologie Parasitaire, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U 167, Institut Pasteur, Lille, France.
Wolowczuk
I
I
Guerret
S
S
Copin
M C
MC
Delanoye
A
A
Capron
A
A
Auriault
C
C
D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000276:immunology*; D007114:Immunization; D016219:Immunotherapy, Adoptive; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000276:immunology*
D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D005982:Glutathione Transferase