title: Chronic Schistosoma japonicum infection reduces immune response to vaccine against hepatitis B in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis B and schistosomiasis are most prevalent in Africa and Asia, and co-infections of both are frequent in these areas. The immunomodulation reported to be induced by schistosome infections might restrict immune control of hepatitis B virus (HBV) leading to more severe viral infection. Vaccination is the most effective measure to control and prevent HBV infection, but there is evidence for a reduced immune response to the vaccine in patients with chronic schistosomiasis japonica.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this paper, we demonstrate in a mouse model that a chronic Schistosoma japonicum infection can inhibit the immune response to hepatitis B vaccine (HBV vaccine) and lead to lower production of anti-HBs antibodies, interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-2 (IL-2). After deworming with Praziquantel (PZQ), the level of anti-HBs antibodies gradually increased and the Th2-biased profile slowly tapered. At 16 weeks after deworming, the levels of anti-HBs antibodies and Th1/Th2 cytokines returned to the normal levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that the preexisting Th2-dominated immune profile in the host infected with the parasite may down-regulate levels of anti-HBs antibodies and Th1 cytokines. To improve the efficacy of HBV vaccination in schistosome infected humans it may be valuable to treat them with praziquantel (PZQ) some time prior to HBV vaccination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wen-qi
authors.initials: WQ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jia-hui
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Man-jun
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wen-jian
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Yong-long
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000494:pharmacology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000378:metabolism*; D007107:Immune System; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012549:Schistosoma japonicum / Q000276:immunology*; D012554:Schistosomiasis japonica / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D016207:Cytokines; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011223:Praziquantel; D007371:Interferon-gamma