Enhanced Interleukin-12 and CD40 Ligand Activities but ReducedStaphylococcus aureusCowan 1-Induced Responses Suggest a Generalized and Progressively Impaired Type 1 Cytokine Pattern for Human Schistosomiasis

Abstract

Whole-blood-cell cultures from schistosomiasis patients were stimulated with a variety of T-cell-dependent and T-cell-independent stimuli to determine whether the defect in type 1 cytokine expression observed following helminth infection is associated with alterations in interleukin-12 (IL-12) or CD40 ligand (CD40L) responsiveness. Cultures from uninfected individuals produced abundant gamma interferon in response to Staphylococcus aureus Cowan 1 (SAC), while patients with intestinal and hepatosplenic disease displayed intermediate and weak responses, respectively. Importantly, the decrease in type 1 cytokine expression was not attributed to defects in IL-12-or CD40L-induced activity. Indeed, schistosomiasis patients displayed heightened responses and even produced more biologically active IL-12 when stimulated with SAC and CD40L than did uninfected controls. Finally, additional studies suggested only a partial role for IL-10, since intestinal patients were the only group that overproduced this downregulatory cytokine. Together, these studies demonstrate that the type 1 deficiency in chronic hepatosplenic schistosomiasis is not related to specific defects in IL-12, IL-10, or CD40L activity, although changes in the functional status of antigen-presenting cells appear to be involved.

Enhanced Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Responses following Toll-Like-Receptor Ligation in Schistosoma haematobium-Infected Schoolchildren from Rural Gabon

“…The second study of TLR-mediated cytokine profiles was carried out in Brazil and also corresponds with our results. Although they did not highlight it, Montenegro et al showed that 48 h whole blood cultures from S. mansoni -infected adults produced more TNF-α than those of uninfected adults in response to LPS [48] .…”