Resistance to Schistosoma mansoni in Humans: Influence of the IgE/IgG4 Balance and IgG2 in Immunity to Reinfection after Chemotherapy

Abstract

The hypothesis of an association between human resistance to reinfection by the parasite Schistosoma mansoni and anti-larval immunoglobulin isotypes was tested by logistic regression in the presence of the explicative variables water contact, age, and sex. Of the seven isotypes tested (IgM, IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgA, and IgE), only IgE, IgG4, and IgG2 showed an association (positive for IgE and negative for IgG2 and IgG4) with resistance to reinfection after chemotherapy. The opposite effects of IgE and IgG4 were undissociable in the analysis, indicating that these isotypes probably antagonize each other in protection. The negative association of IgG2 with resistance is consistent with the view that anti-carbohydrate antibodies may facilitate reinfection. Finally, epidemiologic and immunologic studies support the view that there is a progressive but slow development of acquired immunity in children and adolescents.

Schistosoma mansoni infection modulates the immune response against allergic and auto-immune diseases

“…The role of these cytokines in protecting humans against parasite infections is still not well understood. High levels of Schistosoma mansoni-specific IgE correlated with protection against re-infection in subjects living in an endemic area of S. mansoni (Demeure et al 1993). Studies performed in mice or rats infected with geo-helminths suggest that besides the induction of IgE synthesis, IL-4, in association with other cytokine such as IL-3, IL-9, and IL-13, stimulates the production of mast cells (Comoy et al 1998, Else & Finkelman 1998, Keane-Myers et al 1998, Urban et al 1998.…”

Association of rs7719175, located in the IL13 gene promoter, with Schistosoma haematobium infection levels and identification of a susceptibility haplotype

“…[3][4][5] These results are consistent with findings that sterile immunity in human schistosomiasis is dependent on IgE levels, eosinophils and on the Th1/Th2 balance. [6][7][8][9][10] Parallel results have also been obtained in a S. haematobium-infected population. 11,12 We previously found in a Malian population that one polymorphism in the IL13 gene, rs1800925(C/T) (also called IL13-1055C/T or IL13-1112C/T), was associated with susceptibility to S. haematobium infection.…”

Antibody isotype responses to egg antigens in human chronic Schistosomiasis mansoni before and after treatment

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In the present communication we analyzed the levels of IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4 and IgE Analysis of antibody responses to diferent antigens in patients' sera shows that the slow development of immunity to reinfection after treatment of Schistosoma infection is partially atributable to the continued presence of blocking antibodies in susceptible individuals, particularly IgG4 and IgG2 (Demeure et al 1993). The role of IgE in several imune mechanisms against the parasite has been described in vitro, suggesting that these mechanisms might be involved in protection against human schistosomiasis (Capron et al 1999).

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