The role of chemokines in controlling granulomatous inflammation in Schistosoma mansoni infection.
Chemokines are a superfamily of low-molecular-weight cytokines that were initially described for their chemoattractant activity. It is now clear chemokines have several other activities that modulate immune processes. Chemokines appear to play a role in the pathogenesis of several inflammatory diseases. The role of chemokines and their receptors in mediating granulomatous inflammation induced by Schistosoma mansoni egg antigens presented in particulate manner have been studied in detail. Much less is known of the role of chemokines in mediating inflammation during the course of S. mansoni infection. Our studies in mice suggest a relevant role for the chemokine CCL3 and the receptor CCR5 in the pathogenesis of experimental S. mansoni infection. Absence of CCL3 is associated with decrease in granuloma size, fibrosis and parasite load. In humans, levels of CCL3 in plasma associate with disease severity and may be useful for diagnostic purposes. In contrast, absence of CCR5 is associated with enhanced lethality, granuloma size and fibrosis. It is suggested that the balance of chemokine production and chemokine receptor activation are important determinants of the fate of infection in experimental animals and humans.
Laboratory of Immunopharmacology, Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), 31270-901 Av. Antonio Carlos, 6627 Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Patrícia R S
PR
Souza
Adriano L S
AL
Souza
Deborah
D
Negrão-Correa
Antonio L
AL
Teixeira
Mauro M
MM
Teixeira
D000818:Animals; D018925:Chemokines / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000276:immunology*; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000276:immunology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D018925:Chemokines