Resistance and susceptibility in human onchocerciasis--beyond Th1 vs. Th2.
As research progress has led to programs for the elimination of onchocerciasis as a public health problem, research must now be intensified to protect elimination efforts. A profound understanding of the immunology in the human-parasite relationship is required for predicting the impacts of an altered immune response in a population post-microfilaricide treatment, and for the development of a vaccine against onchocerciasis, a highly desirable tool to guarantee sustained elimination success. This article summarizes the recent advancements in understanding the human immune mechanisms against onchocerciasis, and focuses on the new concept of T-cell suppressor responses as a major counterbalance mechanism for effector responses driven by T helper 1 and T helper 2 cells against the filarial worms.
Hoerauf
Achim
A
Bernhard Nocht Institute of Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht-Strasse 74, 20359, Hamburg, Germany. hoerauf@bni.uni-hamburg.de
Brattig
Norbert
N
D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D017181:Onchocerca volvulus / Q000276:immunology*; D009855:Onchocerciasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D016207:Cytokines