title: Age- and infection intensity-dependent cytokine and antibody production in human trichuriasis: the importance of IgE.
abstract: The cytokine and antibody response to Trichuris trichiura infection was determined for 96 persons living in an area where the parasite is highly endemic and infection exhibits a convex age intensity profile. In response to stimulation with T. trichiura antigen, a small proportion of the study group produced interleukin (IL)-4 (7%), IL-9 (5%), and IL-13 (17%). A larger proportion produced IL-10 (97%), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha (93%), and interferon (IFN)-gamma (32%). The levels of TNF-alpha (P =.016) and IFN-gamma (P =.012) significantly increased with age, suggesting a switch to a more chronic infection phenotype. The predominant parasite-specific antibodies produced were IgG1, IgG4, IgA, and IgE. Unlike the IgG subclasses and IgA, parasite-specific IgE correlated negatively with infection intensity, as defined by egg output (P =.008), and positively with host age (P =.010). These findings suggest a mixed cytokine response in trichuriasis and an IgE-associated level of protection.
authors.affiliation: School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom. Helen.Faulkner@nottingham.ac.uk
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Faulkner
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kamgno
authors.forename: Sébastien D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Pion
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boussinesq
authors.forename: Janette E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Bradley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D014257:Trichuriasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014258:Trichuris / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D016207:Cytokines; D007073:Immunoglobulin E