Suppression of basophil histamine release and other IgE-dependent responses in childhood Schistosoma mansoni/hookworm coinfection.
BACKGROUND
The poor correlation between allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (asIgE) and clinical signs of allergy in helminth infected populations suggests that helminth infections could protect against allergy by uncoupling asIgE from its effector mechanisms. We investigated this hypothesis in Ugandan schoolchildren coinfected with Schistosoma mansoni and hookworm.


METHODS
Skin prick test (SPT) sensitivity to house dust mite allergen (HDM) and current wheeze were assessed pre-anthelmintic treatment. Nonspecific (anti-IgE), helminth-specific, and HDM-allergen-specific basophil histamine release (HR), plus helminth- and HDM-specific IgE and IgG4 responses were measured pre- and post-treatment.


RESULTS
Nonspecific- and helminth-specific-HR, and associations between helminth-specific IgE and helminth-specific HR increased post-treatment. Hookworm infection appeared to modify the relationship between circulating levels of HDM-IgE and HR: a significant positive association was observed among children without detectable hookworm infection, but no association was observed among infected children. In addition, hookworm infection was associated with a significantly reduced risk of wheeze, and IgG4 to somatic adult hookworm antigen with a reduced risk of HDM-SPT sensitivity. There was no evidence for S. mansoni infection having a similar suppressive effect on HDM-HR or symptoms of allergy.


CONCLUSIONS
Basophil responsiveness appears suppressed during chronic helminth infection; at least in hookworm infection, this suppression may protect against allergy.
Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Angela
A
Pinot de Moira
Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Colin M
CM
Fitzsimmons
Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Frances M
FM
Jones
Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Shona
S
Wilson
Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Pierre
P
Cahen
Vector Control Division, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Edridah
E
Tukahebwa
MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe.
Harriet
H
Mpairwe
Centre for Biotechnology Research and Development, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi.
Joseph K
JK
Mwatha
Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine, George Washington University, DC.
Jeffrey M
JM
Bethony
RefLab ApS, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Per S
PS
Skov
Vector Control Division, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Narcis B
NB
Kabatereine
Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.
David W
DW
Dunne
D000293:Adolescent; D015766:Albendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D006632:Histamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D006725:Hookworm Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000378:metabolism*; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology
D000871:Anthelmintics; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D011223:Praziquantel; D006632:Histamine; D015766:Albendazole
Schistosoma mansoni; allergy; basophils; helminth infection; histamine release; hookworm; house dust mite; schistosomiasis; skin prick test; wheeze