Immune-dependent thrombocytopaenia in mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni.
As has been shown previously, immunologically intact mice with patent Schistosoma mansoni infections had a significantly lower mean platelet number than intact uninfected mice (P<0.0001). However, platelet numbers in T-cell deprived mice with patent infections were not significantly different from those in uninfected T-cell deprived mice. Also, platelet counts in both the infected and uninfected T-cell deprived groups were not significantly different from those in intact uninfected mice. The S. mansoni-induced thrombocytopaenia in mice is thus seemingly immune dependent. Immunologically intact mice with chronic 12-week-old S. mansoni infections had IgG antibodies that were reactive in an ELISA-type assay with whole fixed platelets of both mouse and human origin. In Western immunoblots the IgG antibodies from chronically-infected mice reacted in particular against mouse and human platelet antigens of 90, 37 and 30 kDa. Antisera raised from 2 rabbits, immunized respectively with mouse and human platelet antigens, cross-reacted with antigens of the larval, adult worm and egg stages of S. mansoni. These results support the hypothesis that an anti-platelet antibody response may be the cause of the thrombocytopaenia observed in mice with patent schistosome infections.
Stanley
R G
RG
School of Biological Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor LL57 2UW, UK.
Ngaiza
J R
JR
Atieno
E
E
Jell
G
G
Francklow
K
K
Jackson
C L
CL
Parry
H
H
Doenhoff
M J
MJ
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D010976:Platelet Count; D011817:Rabbits; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000502:physiology*; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors
D000906:Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G