title: Impaired lymphocyte profile in schistosomiasis patients with periportal fibrosis.
abstract: The Th2 immune response in chronic schistosomiasis is associated with the development of periportal fibrosis. However, little is known about the phenotype and activation status of T cells in the process. Objective. To evaluate the profile of T cells in schistosomiasis patients with periportal fibrosis. Methods. It was a cross-sectional study, conducted in the village of Agua Preta, Bahia, Brazil, which included 37 subjects with periportal fibrosis determined by ultrasound. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained by the Ficcol-hypaque gradient and the frequency of T cells expressing the surface markers CD28, CD69, CD25, and CTLA-4 was determined by flow cytometry. Results. The frequency of CD4(+)CD28(+) T lymphocytes was higher in individuals with moderate to severe fibrosis compared to patients with incipient fibrosis. We did not observe any significant difference in the frequency of CD4(+) T cells expressing CD69 among groups of individuals. There was also no significant difference in the frequency of CD8(+) T cells expressing CD28 or CD69 among the studied groups. Individuals with moderate to severe fibrosis presented a lower frequency of CD8(+) T cells, CD4(+)CD25(high) T cells, and CD4(+)CTLA-4(+) T cells when compared to patients without fibrosis or incipient fibrosis. The frequency of CD4(+)CD25(low) cells did not differ between groups. Conclusion. The high frequency of activated T cells coinciding with a low frequency of putative Treg cells may account for the development of periportal fibrosis in human schistosomiasis.
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Imunologia, Hospital Universitário Professor Edgard Santos, Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA), 4110-160 Salvador-BA, Brazil ; Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, UFBA, 40171-115 Salvador-BA, Brazil ; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Doenças Tropicais (INCT-DT/CNPq-MCT), Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciana Santos
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Imunologia, Hospital Universitário Professor Edgard Santos, Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA), 4110-160 Salvador-BA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Andréia de Souza Rocha
authors.initials: Ade S
authors.lastname: Barreto
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Imunologia, Hospital Universitário Professor Edgard Santos, Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA), 4110-160 Salvador-BA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jamille Souza
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Imunologia, Hospital Universitário Professor Edgard Santos, Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA), 4110-160 Salvador-BA, Brazil ; Centro de Pesquisa Gonçalo Moniz, FIOCRUZ, 40296-710 Salvador-BA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo Riccio
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Imunologia, Hospital Universitário Professor Edgard Santos, Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA), 4110-160 Salvador-BA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Robson da Paixão
authors.initials: Rda P
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Imunologia, Hospital Universitário Professor Edgard Santos, Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA), 4110-160 Salvador-BA, Brazil ; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Doenças Tropicais (INCT-DT/CNPq-MCT), Brazil ; Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública, 4050-420 Salvador-BA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Edgar M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Imunologia, Hospital Universitário Professor Edgard Santos, Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA), 4110-160 Salvador-BA, Brazil ; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Doenças Tropicais (INCT-DT/CNPq-MCT), Brazil ; Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública, 4050-420 Salvador-BA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Ilma
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Araujo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011168:Portal System / Q000473:pathology*; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult