title: Interleukin-13 in the skin and interferon-gamma in the liver are key players in immune protection in human schistosomiasis.
abstract: Immunity against schistosomes includes anti-infection immunity, which is mainly active against invading larvae in the skin, and anti-disease immunity, which controls abnormal fibrosis in tissues invaded by schistosome eggs. Anti-infection immunity is T-helper 2 (Th2) cell-dependent and is controlled by a major genetic locus that is located near the Th2 cytokine locus on chromosome 5q31-q33. Mutations in the gene encoding interleukin (IL)-13 that decrease or increase IL-13 production account, at least in part, for that genetic control. In contrast, protection against hepatic fibrosis is dependent on interferon (IFN)-gamma and is controlled by a major genetic locus that is located on 6q23, near the gene encoding the IFN-gamma receptor beta chain. Mutations that modulate IFN-gamma gene transcription are associated with different susceptibility to disease. These data indicate that IL-13 in the skin and IFN-gamma in the liver are key players in protective immunity against schistosomes. These roles relate to the high anti-fibrogenic activities of IFN-gamma and to the unique ability of IL-13 in Th2 priming in the skin and in the mobilization of eosinophils in tissues. The coexistence of strong IFN-gamma and IL-13-mediated immune responses in the same subject may involve the compartmentalization of the anti-schistosome immune response between the skin and the liver.
authors.affiliation: Immunology and Genetics of Parasitic Diseases, INSERM, Faculté de Médecine, Marseille, France. alain.dessein@medecine.univ-rs.fr
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dessein
authors.forename: Bourema
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kouriba
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eboumbou
authors.forename: Helia
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dessein
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Argiro
authors.forename: Sandrine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marquet
authors.forename: Nasr-Eldin M A
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Elwali
authors.forename: Virmondes
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Yuesheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ogobara
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Doumbo
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chevillard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology*; D012547:Schistosoma / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D018793:Interleukin-13; D007371:Interferon-gamma