Resistance/susceptibility toEchinococcus multilocularisinfection and cytokine profile in humans. II. Influence of the HLA B8, DR3, DQ2 haplotype

Abstract

SUMMARYDifferences have been shown between HLA characteristics of patients with different courses of alveolar echinococcosis (AE). Notably the HLA B8, DR3, DQ2 haplotype was associated with more severe forms of this granulomatous parasitic disease. We compared IL-10, IL-5, interferon-gamma (IFN-g) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) secretion by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) isolated from eight HLA-DR3 1 , DQ2 1 , B8 1 AE patients and from 10 HLA-DR3 2 , DQ2 2 , B8 2 patients after nonspecific mitogenic and specific Echinococcus multilocularis antigenic in vitro stimulation. PBMC from seven HLA-DR3 1 , DQ2 1 , B8 1 healthy subjects and nine HLA-DR3 2 , DQ2 2 , B8 2 subjects were also studied as controls. PBMC from AE patients with HLA DR3 1 , DQ2 1 haplotype secreted higher levels of IL-10 without any stimulation and after specific antigenic stimulation than did patients without this haplotype. Higher levels of IL-5 and IFN-g were also produced by these patients' PBMC after stimulation with non-purified parasitic antigenic preparations; however, the specific alkaline phosphatase antigen extracted from E. multilocularis induced only Th2-type cytokine secretion. A spontaneous secretion of TNF by HLA DR3 1 , DQ2 1 B8 1 AE patients was also found. These results suggest that HLA characteristics of the host can influence immune-mediated mechanisms, and thus the course of AE in humans; specific antigenic components of E. multilocularis could contribute to the preferential Th2-type cytokine production favoured by the genetic background of the host.

Expression of Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I Chain–Related Molecule A, NKG2D, and Transforming Growth Factor–β in the Liver of Humans with Alveolar Echinococcosis: New Actors in the Tolerance to Parasites?

“…The immunogenetic characteristics of the patients have been correlated with various degrees of severity of AE [30] and with cytokine production [44]; in addition, long-term administration of benzimidazoles may interfere with the viability of the parasite and the host immune reaction [45]. The clinical status of the patients and information on any administration of benzimidazoles before liver sampling were thus carefully recorded.…”

Local differences in immunocompetence reflect resistance of sticklebacks against the eye fluke Diplostomum pseudospathaceum

“…A crucial step for the development of an acquired immune response is the presentation of parasite-derived peptides by molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Genes of the MHC are highly polymorphic at the level of populations (Klein, 1986) and in several cases associated with susceptibility to (locally) prevalent parasites (Briles, Stone and Cole, 1977 ;Hill et al 1991 ;Godot et al 2000).…”

Immunochemical characterization of alkaline phosphatase from the fluid of sterile and fertile Echinococcus granulosus cysts

“…ALP from E. granulosus cysts can be used as a diagnostic reagent or a candidate antigen for immunoinduction (Lowton et al 1994). However, ALP extract as a specific antigen, from Echinococcus multilocularis induced only Th2-type cytokine secretion (Godot et al 2000). It must be noted that the enzyme from fertile hydatid cysts, i.e.…”