Human fascioliasis: T cell subsets in liver before and after bithionol treatment

ABSTRACT

Liver biopsies from 5 patients with established fascioliasis, before and after bithionol treatment were studied by immunoalkaline phosphatase technique for relative distribution of T cells and their subpopulations. T cell and its subsets are defined for OKT3[+] [pan T], OKT4[+] [helper/inducer] and OKT8[+] [suppressor/cytotoxic] cells by using mouse monoclonal antibodies. Before bithionol treatment, lymphocytic infiltration in all hepatic lesions were predominantly of OKT3[+] [pan T] lymphocytes. The distribution of OKT8[+] cells was moderate to severe in comparison to the few OKT4[+] cells presentation. After bithionol a noticable regression of the OKT3[+] lymphocytic in all liver sections. The majority of the lymphocytic infiltration was of the OKT8[+] cells, in comparison to the absence of the OKT[4]+ ones. This may indicate that suppressor/cytotoxic lymphocytes may have a role in the immune regulation of the disease and the mode of action of bithionol is by the accentuation of this immunoregulartory effect