title: Influence of maternal filariasis on childhood infection and immunity to Wuchereria bancrofti in Kenya.
abstract: To determine whether maternal filariasis influences the risk of infection by and immunity to Wuchereria bancrofti in children, we performed a cross-sectional study in an area of Kenya where filariasis is endemic. Residents of 211 households were enrolled; 376 parents and 938 of their offspring between the ages of 2 and 17 years were examined for filarial infection status as determined by blood-borne microfilariae and filarial antigenemia. Children of infected mothers had a three- to fourfold increased risk of filarial infection, as ascertained by circulating filarial antigen, relative to children of uninfected mothers (P < 0.001). Paternal infection did not correlate with childhood infection status, indicating a specific maternal effect. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from children of filaria-infected mothers (n = 33) had higher levels of constitutive interleukin-5 (IL-5) and IL-10, increased microfilarial antigen-specific IL-5 production, and diminished microfilarial antigen-driven lymphocyte proliferation than cells from children of uninfected mothers (n = 46; P < 0.05). In contrast, there were no differences between the two groups in adult worm antigen-driven gamma interferon, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10 production and lymphocyte proliferation. These data indicate that maternal filarial infection increases childhood susceptibility to W. bancrofti and skews filaria-specific immunity toward a Th2-type cytokine response. The results support the notion that in utero exposure to filarial antigens affects the natural history of filariasis during childhood.
authors.affiliation: Center for Global Health and Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106-4983, USA.
authors.forename: Indu
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Malhotra
authors.forename: John H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ouma
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wamachi
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kioko
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mungai
authors.forename: Malik
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Njzovu
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kazura
authors.forename: Christopher L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: King
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood; D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004605:Elephantiasis, Filarial / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000635:transmission; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007630:Kenya / Q000453:epidemiology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D014958:Wuchereria bancrofti / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D016207:Cytokines