Dissociation of interleukin-4 and interleukin-5 production following treatment for Schistosoma haematobium infection in humans.
Infection with Schistosoma haematobium, the causative agent of urinary schistosomiasis is characterized by high levels of specific immunoglobulin (Ig) E and eosinophilia. The primary cytokines driving production of IgE and eosinophilia are IL-4 and IL-5, respectively. In this study, IL-4 and IL-5 production in children from a schistosome endemic area of Zimbabwe were investigated. Blood samples were taken, stimulated in vitro with either mitogen or schistosome antigens and assayed for IL-4 and IL-5 production. These samples produced either IL-4 or IL-5 but rarely both cytokines when blood was cultured in vitro for 24 or 48 h. After 72 h culture in vitro, both cytokines were detected in most samples. These data imply that while IL-4 and IL-5 are both produced by schistosome infected people, they are not necessarily coproduced.
Scott
J T
JT
Division of Infection and Immunity, IBLS, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK.
Turner
C m
Cm
Mutapi
F
F
Woolhouse
M E
ME
Chandiwana
S K
SK
Mduluza
T
T
Ndhlovu
P D
PD
Hagan
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D012548:Schistosoma haematobium; D012553:Schistosomiasis haematobia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015030:Zimbabwe
D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D015848:Interleukin-5; D015847:Interleukin-4