Relation between T lymphocytes activities and the intensity of schistosoma mansoni infection

ABSTRACT

This study was done on 60 schistosome patients and 12 cross matched healthy control persons. The schistosome patients were classified on the bases of intensity of infection into 22 patients with light infection [one to 100 eggs/gm stool], 24 patients with moderate infection [101- 400 eggs/gm stool], 14 patients with heavy infection [>400 eggs/gm stool]. 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. It was found that there was a significant decrease in CD3, CD4 and the expression of costimulatory molecule CD28 on CD8 T lymphocytes, while CD8 T lymphocytes and the activation marker HLA-DR expression on CD4 T lymphocytes were increased. These changes were more obvious with the increase in intensity of infection