RESUMO
This study concerning the effect of splenectomy, role of tuftsin, as a phagocytosis promoting agent, on the polymorphunclear leucocyte functions and its effect on the immune mechanism in hepatosplenic schistosomiasis. It was carried out on fifteen normal controls group, fifteen cases with splenomeglic bilharizal hepatic fibrosis and other seven cases of bilharzial splenomegaly that underwent splencetomy 1.5-7 years before being subjected to this study. The methods applied in this work, comprised the estimation of neutrophil chemotaxis, phagocytosis and intracellular killing of candida albicans with and without tuftsin in the different groups. Statistical analysis of the data obtained without tuftsin, revealed a depression of migratory, phagocytosis and candidacidal activities of PMN leucocytes in splenomegatic schistosomiasis. These functions were remarkably improved after splencetomy denoting that there might be a variable degree of immune depression exerted by the enlarged spleen. This was explained by a defective synthesis of tuftsin necessary for leucocyte functions, beside its depressant effect on normal neutrophil production. Analysis of the data obtained after the addition of tuftsin denotes that, tuftsin improves migratory, phagocytosis and candidacidal activities of PMN leucocytes in all the groups. This means that tuftsin is an essential factor that improves the leucocyte functions