Immunophenotyping of T-lymphocyte subsets in hepatic schistosomiasis with or without hepatitis B virus infection

ABSTRACT

Chronic human infection with Schistosoma mansoni trematodes is associated with impaired cell immunity. Granuloma formation and its modulation represent a delicate balance between T lymphocyte subsets, T helper and T suppressor cells. The lymphocytes identified were of pan T cell type CDT3 and showed marked CDT4 cells [helper/inducer] than CDT8 cells in granuloma formation and its modulation. The study showed a significant correlation between the degree of fibrosis and T helper cell levels which implies the role of the T helper pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis. There was no significant difference between pure schistosomal group and the mixed one as regard T-lymphocyte subsets. It seems that the immunological events in both diseases were different