Urinary transforming growth factor beta 1 [TGF beta 1] and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 [sICAM-1] as non invasive immunological indicators of disease progression and morbidity in human schistosomiasis mansoni and haematobium

ABSTRACT

The level of urinary TGF beta 1 and serum soluble intracellular adhesion molecule-I [sICAM-1] were assessed in different stages of human infection with Schistosoma mansoni and haematobium using radioimmunoassay and ELISA kits respectively. Their role in pathogenesis and relevance to disease severity were evaluated. Based on information obtained from clinical, parasitological, sigmoidoscopic, sonographic and urethero- cystoscopy examination.70 schistosomiasis mansoni patients were divided into the following groups active intestinal, early hepatosplenic and periportal fibrosis. Also 30 Schistosoma haematobium infected patients were divided into early urinary, chronic stage and early non invasive and invasive stages of urinary bladder squamous cell carcinoma on top of schistosomiasis haematobium. Compared to normal controls, the results showed that TGF-beta1 levels were significantly raised in early hepatosplenic and periportal fibrosis schistosomiasis mansoni patients. TGF beta 1 level was significantly increased with disease progression in periportal fibrosis patients as well as with sonographic indicators of portal hypertension; presence of portosystemic collaterals, portal vein dilatation. In schistosoma haematobium patients significant increase of TGF beta 1 levels were observed in patients with both invasive and non invasive bladder carcinoma stages in comparison to control group. Serum sICAM-1 was significantly up regulated in hepatosplenic and periportal fibrosis patients in Schistosoma mansoni infected groups. However in S. haematobium infected patients it was only elevated in late invasive cancer stage This study provided evidence that urinary levels of TGF beta 1 and serum sICAM-1 could serve as an indicator of progression of schistosomiasis mansoni reflecting their role in angiogenesis, granuloma and fibrosis development in liver. TGF beta 1 has the added advantage of being a potential useful safe non invasive marker in detecting bladder carcinoma on top of Schistosoma haematobium infection. TGF beta 1 may be also a sensitive marker for effectiveness of treatment in periportal fibrosis patients