title: Impaired T helper 2 response to aeroallergen in helminth-infected patients with asthma.
abstract: Helminthic infections have been shown to inhibit allergy skin-prick tests and to modify the course of asthma. We evaluated Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus-specific immune responses in patients with asthma by measuring levels of T helper 2 (Th2) cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cultures. PBMCs from Schistosoma mansoni-infected patients with asthma living in an area of polyhelminthic endemicity produced lower levels of interleukin (IL)-5 and IL-4 in response to D. pteronyssinus antigen (Ag) 1 than did PBMCs from helminth-free patients with asthma. In contrast, D. pteronyssinus Ag 1-specific production of IL-10 was higher in helminth-infected patients than in helminth-free patients. The addition of recombinant human IL-10 to D. pteronyssinus Ag 1-stimulated cultures of PBMCs from helminth-free patients led to down-modulation of production of IL-5. After helminth-infected patients with asthma received antihelminthic treatment, there was down-modulation of D. pteronyssinus Ag 1-specific production of IL-10 in vitro. S. mansoni-infected patients with asthma produce lower levels of Th2 cytokines than do helminth-free patients with asthma, and this modulation is likely done by IL-10.
authors.affiliation: Servico de Imunologia, Hospital Universitario Professor Edgard Santos, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. imuno@ufba.br
authors.forename: Maria Ilma A S
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Araujo
authors.forename: Bradford
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hoppe
authors.forename: Manoel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.forename: Leda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alcântara
authors.forename: Maria Cecília
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schriefer
authors.forename: Ricardo R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Ramon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kruschewsky
authors.forename: Joanemile P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
authors.forename: Alvaro A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: Edgar M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Carvalho
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000276:immunology; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology*; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000032:analysis; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D012556:Schistosomicides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D015848:Interleukin-5; D012556:Schistosomicides; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4