HTLV-1 modifies the clinical and immunological response to schistosomiasis.
The immunological response in HTLV-1 infected individuals is characterized by a prominent Type-1 cytokine response with high production of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha. In contrast, helminthic infections and in particular chronic schistosomiasis are associated with a predominant production of IL-4, IL-5, IL-10 and IL-13. Liver fibrosis is the main pathological finding in schistosomiasis that occurs after many years of infection. This pathology is T cell dependent but the immune response mechanisms are not completely understood. The North-east region of Brazil is endemic for both HTLV-1 and schistosomiasis. In the present study the immune response, clinical severity, and therapeutic response to praziquantel of patients with schistosomiasis coinfected with HTLV-1 were compared with patients infected only with S. mansoni. Patients with HTLV-1 and S. mansoni had lower levels of IL-5 (P < 0.05) and higher levels of IFN-gamma (P < 0.05) in cultures stimulated with S. mansoni antigen and decreased S. mansoni antigen specific IgE levels when compared with patients with schistosomiasis without HTLV-1 coinfection. Liver fibrosis was mild in all HTLV-1 coinfected patients and efficacy of praziquantel was lower in patients dually infected than in patients infected only with S. mansoni.
Porto
A F
AF
Serviço de Imunologia do Hospital Unversitário Prof Edgard Santos, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
Santos
S B
SB
Alcantara
L
L
Guerreiro
J B
JB
Passos
J
J
Gonzalez
T
T
Neva
F
F
Gonzalez
D
D
Ho
J L
JL
Carvalho
E M
EM
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000276:immunology; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis
D000871:Anthelmintics; D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D015848:Interleukin-5; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D011223:Praziquantel; D007371:Interferon-gamma