Treatment of human acute schistosomiasis with oxamniquine induces an increase in interferon-gamma response to Schistosoma mansoni antigens.
Patients with acute schistosomiasis were studied before and after oxamniquine treatment. They had been exposed to cercariae 5 to 9 weeks before, and presented compatible clinical manifestations, eosinophilia, and high levels of total IgE. Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-4 were measured by ELISA in whole blood samples under soluble egg antigen or soluble adult worm preparation stimulation. After treatment, the reduction of leukocytosis and eosinophilia were not significant, but total IgE levels decreased significantly, in contrast to IFN-gamma levels that were significantly increased. The oxamniquine treatment of acute schistosomiasis patients is followed by an improvement of a Th1 response in vitro. If this response has a protective aspect is unknown, and some investigations need to be realized.
de Souza
Joelma R
JR
Departamento de Bioquímica, Universitária, 52020-020 Recife, PE, Brasil.
Morais
Clarice N L
CN
Aroucha
Marcílio L
ML
Miranda
Paulo J C
PJ
Barbosa
Constança S
CS
Domingues
Ana Lúcia C
AL
Carvalho Júnior
Luiz B
LB
Abath
Frederico G C
FG
Montenegro
Silvia M L
SM
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D010073:Oxamniquine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000276:immunology*; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D012556:Schistosomicides / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D012556:Schistosomicides; D010073:Oxamniquine; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma