title: Serum CCL11 (eotaxin-1) and CCL17 (TARC) are serological indicators of multiple helminth infections and are driven by Schistosoma mansoni infection in humans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate systemic serum cytokine and chemokine markers for inflammation and Th1/Th2 responses in relation to multiple helminth infections, parasite burden and/or nutritional status of individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a longitudinal study, stool samples from 210 individuals from an area highly endemic for Ascaris lumbricoides, Necator americanus and Schistosoma mansoni were examined before and 12 months after clearance of parasites by chemotherapy. On both occasions, the presence of mono- or multiple infections and intensities of infection were compared with nutritional parameters and with serum cytokines or chemokines as markers for inflammatory, regulatory or Th1- or Th2-type immune responses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before treatment, we were not able to associate any altered nutritional parameters with increased inflammatory responses, and highest intensities of infection were found in eutrophic participants with multiple infections. In contrast, major changes in serum Th2-type chemokine levels were measured in individuals infected with intestinal helminths and/or S. mansoni, and resulted in significantly higher CCL11 and CCL17 concentrations, both before treatment and after reinfection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The driving force for these elevated type 2 serum chemokine concentrations was an S. mansoni infection and faecal egg counts significantly correlated with serum IL-10 concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. stefan.geiger76@gmail.com
authors.forename: Stefan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Geiger
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jardim-Botelho
authors.forename: Weston
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Neal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Diemert
authors.forename: Jeffrey M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bethony
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D001938:Brazil; D054413:Chemokine CCL11 / Q000097:blood*; D054414:Chemokine CCL17 / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D015415:Biomarkers; C515456:CCL11 protein, human; C106230:CCL17 protein, human; D054413:Chemokine CCL11; D054414:Chemokine CCL17; C508609:IL10 protein, human; D016753:Interleukin-10