Human infection with Ascaris lumbricoides is associated with a polarized cytokine response.
To define the cytokine response to Ascaris lumbricoides infection, the cellular immune response to adult and larval-stage Ascaris antigens in young adults with moderate infection intensities (n=73) was compared with that of a group of uninfected control subjects (n=40). A. lumbricoides-infected subjects had significantly greater lymphoproliferative responses to adult and larval-stage antigens, compared with uninfected control subjects (P<.01). The frequencies of parasite antigen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC)-expressing interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5 were significantly greater in the infected group (P<.001), whereas the frequencies of IL-10- and interferon-gamma-expressing PBMC were similar in the 2 groups studied. The ratios of Th2 to Th1 cytokine frequencies were significantly elevated in the infected group, compared with those in uninfected subjects, as was IL-5 protein production by PBMC stimulated with adult (P<.05) and L3/L4 stage (P<.001) antigens. Analysis of these data indicates that A. lumbricoides infections in endemic regions are associated with a highly polarized type 2 cytokine response.
Cooper
P J
PJ
Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-0425, USA. pc102d@hotmail.com
Chico
M E
ME
Sandoval
C
C
Espinel
I
I
Guevara
A
A
Kennedy
M W
MW
Urban
J F
JF
Griffin
G E
GE
Nutman
T B
TB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000276:immunology*; D001196:Ascariasis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D017164:Ascaris lumbricoides / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000097:blood; D007814:Larva; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D014258:Trichuris / Q000276:immunology
D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D016207:Cytokines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015848:Interleukin-5; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007371:Interferon-gamma