Host immune response to Toxoplasma gondii and Ascaris lumbricoides in a highly endemic area: evidence of parasite co-immunomodulation properties influencing the outcome of both infections.
Toxoplasmosis and ascaridiasis evoke polar Th-1 and Th-2 host immune responses, respectively. A study to investigate the specific cytokine profile production by in vitro cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from individuals living under precarious sanitary conditions in a highly endemic area for the parasites Toxoplasma gondii and Ascaris lumbricoides was conducted. High levels of both IFN-gamma (Th-1) and IL-13 (Th-2) were observed in groups of co-infected individuals presenting toxoplasmic ocular lesions. Significantly lower IL-10 and TGF-beta levels were produced by co-infected individuals in comparison with groups of individuals not infected with A. lumbricoides and either positive or negative for T. gondii living under good sanitary conditions (control groups). The possible influence of co-parasitism on the clinical presentation of ocular toxoplasmosis is discussed.
Bahia-Oliveira
Lílian M G
LM
Laboratório de Biologia do Reconhecer, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brasil. lilian@uenf.br
Silva
Juliana Azevedo da
JA
Peixoto-Rangel
Alba Lucinia
AL
Boechat
Marcela Santana Bastos
MS
Oliveira
Annelise M Wilken Abreu
AM
Massara
Cristiano L
CL
Peixe
Ricardo Guerra
RG
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001196:Ascariasis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D017164:Ascaris lumbricoides / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014126:Toxoplasmosis, Ocular / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology
D016207:Cytokines; D018793:Interleukin-13; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007371:Interferon-gamma