title: Cytokine profile, proliferation and phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and Akt in circulating mononuclear cells from individuals during the chronic intestinal phase of Schistosomiasis mansoni infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The immune response to Schistosoma mansoni is characterized by a granulomatous reaction around the parasite eggs that are trapped in the host liver, and this reaction modulates the immune response during the chronic phase of the disease. The typical peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) response of patients during the chronic intestinal phase of infection is characterized by a decreased response to an S. mansoni soluble egg antigen. To obtain a greater understanding of Schistosoma infections, this study investigated the effects of the soluble egg antigen (SEA) and soluble adult worm antigen (SWAP) of S. mansoni on cellular proliferation, cytokine production, and ERK1/2 and Akt phosphorylation in PBMCs from infected (XTO) and egg-negative (NI) individuals living in the same endemic area.
  
  
  METHODS
  The activation status was evaluated by cell immunophenotypic staining (cytometry). The cell proliferation assay was by CFSE method. Cytokine detection assay (Th1 and Th2) was by Cytometric Bead and Array phosphorylation status was by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The XTO, NI and BD (blood donor) individuals from an area not endemic for schistosomiasis were compared. The CD4(+) T lymphocyte proliferation rate was lower in the XTO group, but not the NI group, after SEA stimulation compared to the BD group. The CD8(+) T cell proliferation rate was lower in the XTO group in the unstimulated cultures and after both SEA and SWAP stimulation compared to the BD group. Cytokine analysis after either SEA or SWAP stimulation showed a balanced cytokine pattern in the XTO and NI groups. ERK1/2 and Akt phosphorylation were only marginally detected in all groups; however, a decrease in ERK 1/2 phosphorylation was observed in the SWAP-stimulated XTO group compared to both the NI and BD groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data indicate that SEA-stimulated CD4(+) T cells from infected patients have a lower proliferation rate than the same cells from the NI group. Furthermore, we observed that SWAP stimulation influences ERK1/2 phosphorylation in the XTO group.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oliveira-Prado
authors.forename: Iramaya Rodrigues
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Caldas
authors.forename: Andréa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Teixeira-Carvalho
authors.forename: Marcus Vinicius
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Rafaelle Christine Gomes
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Fares
authors.forename: Laís Maroni
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Portugal
authors.forename: Andréa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gazzinelli
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Corrêa-Oliveira
authors.forename: José Renan
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Cunha-Melo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D007422:Intestines / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D012547:Schistosoma / Q000276:immunology; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3