title: A switch towards Th2 during serological rebound in children with congenital toxoplasmosis.
abstract: Serological rebounds occur frequently in patients with congenital toxoplasmosis, but remain poorly understood. A link between Th1 and Th2 cytokines and the pathophysiology of infectious diseases has been reported. Production of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and IL-4 in supernatants of whole blood after in vitro specific Toxoplasma gondii stimulation and serum-specific IgE levels were studied in 31 congenitally infected children. IFN-gamma was produced at higher levels by lymphocytes from children with stable congenital toxoplasmosis (n = 18) than from children showing serological rebound (n = 13) (P < 0.04). Conversely, supernatants from children with serological rebound showed higher levels of IL-4 than those from children with stable congenital toxoplasmosis (P < 0.03). The polarized Th2 response was confirmed by a greater (IL-4:IFN-gamma) x 100 ratio (P < 0.0001) and production of T. gondii-specific IgE in six out of 13 children showing serological rebound. These results suggest a role of Th2 cytokines in destabilization of congenital toxoplasmosis and perhaps in local reactivation of the parasite.
authors.affiliation: J.E. 1947 Parasitologie, Faculté de Médecine Lyon Nord, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kahi
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Cozon
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pinon
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Greenland
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wallon
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al Kurdi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ferrandiz
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Peyron
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002648:Child; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014125:Toxoplasmosis, Congenital / Q000276:immunology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma