title: Higher percentages of circulating mast cell precursors correlate with susceptibility to reinfection with Schistosoma mansoni.
abstract: A high level of serum IgE is generally associated with human resistance to schistosomes, though the protective mechanisms of IgE remain undefined. We recently reported that whereas some individuals who are occupationally hyperexposed to Schistosoma mansoni display resistance to reinfection, others remain highly susceptible, in some cases due to HIV-1 co-infection. As IgE functions, in part, through FcepsilonRI on mast cells, we characterized circulating CD117(+) FcepsilonRI(+) mast cell precursors in this population. Surprisingly, a higher percentage of CD117(+) cells correlated with a susceptible phenotype in HIV-1 seronegative participants with schistosomiasis. There was no association between percentages of peripheral CD117(+) cells and susceptibility to reinfection in persons with HIV-1. Serum levels of polyclonal IgE were inversely correlated with percentages of CD117(+) cells regardless of HIV-1 status. Thus, immature mast cells may affect IgE availability, or IgE may affect immature mast cells, altering the balance of host susceptibility and resistance to schistosomes.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Parasitic Diseases, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA. Lisa.GanleyLeal@bmc.org
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Ganley-Leal
authors.forename: Pauline N M
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Mwinzi
authors.forename: Catherine B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Cetre-Sossah
authors.forename: Julius
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Andove
authors.forename: Allen W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Hightower
authors.forename: Diana M S
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Karanja
authors.forename: Daniel G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Colley
authors.forename: W Evan
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Secor
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D006801:Humans; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D012008:Recurrence; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*