Correlation of serum sHLA-G levels with cyst stage in patients with cystic echinococcosis: is it an immune evasion strategy?
Patients with cystic echinococcosis (CE) can harbour cysts for years or even decades, apparently without effect of the immune system on the metacestode. Although several immune evasion mechanisms by echinococcal cysts have been described, it is unclear whether the human leucocyte antigen (HLA) system plays a role in the susceptibility or resistance to CE in humans. HLA-G molecules are known to exert a suppressive action on dendritic cells maturation and on natural killer (NK) cells functions, therefore hampering T-cell responses and NK cytolysis. HLA-G plays an important role in immune tolerance, is involved in foetus and in allotransplant tolerance, and may be involved in tumoral and viral immune evasion. In this study, we assessed the presence and levels of soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G) in patients with CE using a commercial ELISA kit to determine whether host's HLA-G may have a role in the course of human CE.
Division of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy.|WHO Collaborating Centre for Clinical Management of Cystic Echinococcosis, Pavia, Italy.|Department of Clinical Surgical Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
M
M
Mariconti
Department of Internal medicine and Medical Therapy, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.|Microbiology and Virology Unit, San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy.
V
V
Meroni
Immunogenetics Laboratory, Immunohematology and Transfusion Center, San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy.
C
C
Badulli
Division of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy.|WHO Collaborating Centre for Clinical Management of Cystic Echinococcosis, Pavia, Italy.|Department of Clinical Surgical Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
E
E
Brunetti
Clinical Epidemiology and Biometry Unit, San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy.
C
C
Tinelli
Clinical Epidemiology and Biometry Unit, San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy.
A
A
De Silvestri
WHO Collaborating Centre for Clinical Management of Cystic Echinococcosis, Pavia, Italy.|Department of Clinical Surgical Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
F
F
Tamarozzi
Microbiology and Virology Unit, San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy.
F
F
Genco
Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immunomediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanita', Roma, Italy.
A
A
Casulli
Immunogenetics Laboratory, Immunohematology and Transfusion Center, San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy.
M
M
Martinetti
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D004446:Echinococcus / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D059951:HLA-G Antigens / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D057131:Immune Evasion; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D055815:Young Adult
D059951:HLA-G Antigens
Echinococcus spp; disease; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; host species; human; hydatidosis; immune modulation; immunological terms; parasite; tools and techniques