ABSTRACT
Activity of IL-1 produced by peripheral blood monocytes stimulated with lipopolysaccharide in vitro was detected from 17 acute cases, 14 chronic cases and 19 advanced cases of schistosomiasis japonica. It was found that the level of IL-1 was significantly increased and positively related to the body tempereture in the group with acute schistosomiasis. The activity of IL-1 was statistically reduced in the chronic and advanced groups, especially in the latter. After inhibiting the synthesis of prostaglandin with indomethacin, the level of IL-1 was significantly increased in three groups of patients, but no apparent change in the normal contro group. The results indicate that IL-1 may play an important role in inducing the inflammatory reaction in patients with acute schistosomiasis japonica and in the immunoregulation in the chronic stage. The changes of IL-1 activity in patients with schistosomiasis japonica may be closely related to prostaglandin.