Flow cytometric study of T-cell subsets and costimulatory molecules in clinical forms of human schistosoma mansoni chronic infection

Helminthic parasites cause widespread, persistent infections in humans. Schistosomiasis mansoni infected patients being in a chronic immune-activation state enabled us to investigate the effects of such immune activation on immune responses. We performed by flow cytometry aphenotypic analysis of peripheral blood T lymphocytes from 64 Schistosoma mansoni infected patients, in different clinical forms of the chronic disease. The main findings in the patient group in comparison with the non-infected controls were: [i] decreased CD3, CD4 and CD8 lymphocyte counts; [ii] elevated levels of activated T cells [CD4 expressing HLA-DR]; [iii] decreased numbers of CD28+ CD8+ lymphocytes. These findings support the notion that chronic helminthic infections cause persistent immune activation that result in hyporesponsiveness and anergy. Such impaired immune functions may diminish the capacity of these individuals to cope with infections and to generate cellular protective immunity after vaccination

T lymphocyte activation and expression of costimulatory molecules in intestinal Ascariasis

This study was carried on 48 patient with Ascriasis and 12 cross matched healthy control persons. All the studied cases were submitted to flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells using monoclonal antibodies against CD3, CD4, CD8, CD28, HLA-DR. In this study, there was a significant decrease in CD3, CD4 and expression of costimulatory molecule CD28 on CD8 T lymphocytes but the decrease in CD8 T lymphocytes was insignificant, while the activation marker HLA-DR expression on CD4 T lymphocytes was increased

T lymphocyte activation and expression of costimulatory molecules in filarial elephantiasis

This study was carried in 48 patients with positive blood films for W. bancrofti microfilaria and 12 cross matched healthy control persons. All the studied cases were submitted to flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells using monoclonal antibodies against CD3, CD4, CD8, CD28, HLA-DR. In this study, there was a significant decrease in CD3 and CD4 T lymphocytes but the changes in CD8 T cells and CD28 expression on CD8 T lymphocytes was insignificant while the activation marker HLA-DR expression on CD4 T lymphocytes was increased

T-lymphocytes activation and expression of costimulatory molecules in human toxoplasmosis during pregnancy

The study was carried on 48 pregnant patients with positive sera for Toxoplasma antibodies [IgG, IgM] and 12 cross matched healthy control pregnant women. All studied cases were submitted to flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells [PBMNCs]; using monoclonal antibodies [MAbs] against CD3, CD4, CD8, CD28 and HLA-DR. Results revealed that, there was a significant decrease in CD4 and the expression of co stimulatory molecule CD28 on CD8 T lymphocytes, while the activation marker HLA-DR expression on CD4 T lymphocytes was significantly increased, but the changes in CD3 and CD8 T lymphocytes were insignificant