Immune suppressor substance in experimental chagas disease.
Specific and generalized immune suppression has been reported in several acute and chronic parasitic infections. In Chagas disease, soluble suppressor substances have been demonstrated in murine experimental models, but the nature and origin of these substances remain uncertain. Here, Eddy Liew reviews recent findings on immune suppression in inbred mouse strains infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. He suggests that production of suppressor substances may be an appropriate means to balance host-protective immunity with the possible risk of autoimmune disease, but, because of the apparent genetic restriction of suppressor substance production, raises doubts about its true biological significance.
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Eddy Liew is Head o f Experimental Immuno-biology at the Wellcome Research Laboratories, Beckenham, Kent BR3 3BS, UK.