Influence of maternal schistosomiasis on the immunity of adult offspring mice.
Schistosoma mansoni infection modulates the immunity to unrelated antigens in the host. In this study, we have investigated the effect of pregnancy and nursing from schistosomotic mother mice on the immune response to ovalbumin (OA), in adult offspring. Then, newborn mice were divided into four groups: animals born from infected mothers (BIM) suckled by non-infected mothers; animals from non-infected mothers suckled by infected mothers (SIM); and two other groups that were mice born and suckled in infected mothers (BSIM) or non-infected (control) mothers. The adult offspring were immunized with OA plus adjuvant. We compared the OA-specific hypersensitivity reactions (HR), antibodies levels (IgG, IgG2a) and the cytokine production in splenocyte cultures. Remarkable interleukin (IL)-10 synthesis was observed in mice BIM; while the anti-OA antibodies levels and immediate HR were impaired. IL-10 neutralization recovered this suppression. Differently, in mice SIM and BSIM there was an enhancement in the anti-OA humoral response and high IL-2 production, however low level of the IL-10 was detected in mice BSIM. In conclusion, schistosomotic pregnancy provides an immunosuppressive potential, IL-10 dependent, which was sustained throughout adult life. Regardless, suckling by infected mothers induces great responsiveness to an unrelated antigen and repairs the inhibitory potential acquired during prenatal stage.
Santos
Patrícia d'Emery Alves
Pd
Laboratory of Immunology, Laboratory of Immunopathology Keizo Asami (LIKA), Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
Sales
Iana Rafaela Fernandes
IR
Schirato
Giuliana Viegas
GV
Costa
Vlaudia Maria Assis
VM
Albuquerque
Mônica Camelo P A
MC
Souza
Valdênia Maria Oliveira
VM
Malagueño
Elizabeth
E
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000473:pathology; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000276:immunology*; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000276:immunology*; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000276:immunology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology
D000906:Antibodies; D016207:Cytokines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010047:Ovalbumin