ABSTRACT
A role of IL-10 is down-regulating T-cell responses to schistosome antigens. Since SmATPDases can be correlated to modulation of the immune response, we evaluated the expression of enzymes in S. mansoni eggs. Faecal samples were collected from 40 infected individuals to detect coding regions of the SmATPDases. The cytokines were measured in supernatants of PBMC. The analysis was performed by the global median determination and set up high producers (HP) of cytokines. Six individuals expressed SmATPDase1, six expressed SmATPDase2 and six expressed both enzymes. The group who expressed only SmATPDase1 showed a high frequency of IFN-γ, TNF IL-4 HP; individuals who expressed only SmATPDase2 showed a high frequency of IFN-γ, IL-6 and IL-4 HP; and individuals who expressed both enzymes showed a high frequency of IL-10 HP. The comparison of the IFN-γ/IL-10 ratio presented higher indices in the group who had SmATPDase 2 expression than those who had the expression of both enzymes. The positive correlation between infection intensity and IL-10 levels remained only in the positive SmATPDase group. The IL-10 is the only cytokine induced by the expression of both enzymes. Our data suggest that the expression of both enzymes seems to be a factor that modulates the host immune response by inducing high IL-10 production.
Subject(s)
Schistosoma mansoni , Schistosomiasis mansoni , Animals , Humans , Interleukin-10/metabolism , Interleukin-4/metabolism , Leukocytes, Mononuclear , Cytokines/metabolismABSTRACT
Two hundred and twenty three subjects from a Schistosoma mansoni low morbidity endemic area and nine hospitalized hepatosplenic patients were submitted to stool test and clinical examination and abdomen ultrasound assessments. According to stool examination and ultrasound results, they were grouped as follows: G1 -- 63 Schistosoma mansoni egg-negative individuals; G2 -- 141 egg-positive patients and without evidence of periportal fibrosis; G3 -- 19 egg-positive patients with periportal echogenicity (3-6 mm); and G4 -- 9 hepatosplenic patients with periportal echogenicity (> 6 mm). Hepatomegaly detected by physical examination of the abdomen evaluated in the midclavicular line was verified in G1, G2 and G3, respectively, in 11.1, 12.1 and 26.3%. In G1, G2 and G3, periportal thickening occurred only in schistosomal patients (8.5%). Mild pathological alterations in patients that cannot yet be detected by clinical examination were detectable in the liver by ultrasound and can be due to fibrosis. The degree of mild periportal fibrosis was diminished in 57.9% of patients 12 months after treatment of schistosomiasis with oxamniquine. At ultrasonography, the mean liver left lobe measurement of G3 was larger than that of G1, and that of G4 larger than that of G1 and G2. The mean size of the spleen of G4 was significantly larger than that of the other three groups, and that of G3 larger than that of G1 and G2.
Subject(s)
Liver Diseases, Parasitic/diagnosis , Schistosomiasis mansoni/diagnosis , Splenic Diseases/diagnosis , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Animals , Case-Control Studies , Child , Endemic Diseases , Feces/parasitology , Female , Humans , Liver Cirrhosis/diagnostic imaging , Liver Cirrhosis/drug therapy , Liver Cirrhosis/parasitology , Liver Diseases, Parasitic/diagnostic imaging , Liver Diseases, Parasitic/drug therapy , Male , Middle Aged , Oxamniquine/therapeutic use , Parasite Egg Count , Portal Vein/diagnostic imaging , Portal Vein/parasitology , Schistosomiasis mansoni/diagnostic imaging , Schistosomiasis mansoni/drug therapy , Schistosomicides/therapeutic use , Severity of Illness Index , Splenic Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Splenic Diseases/drug therapy , UltrasonographyABSTRACT
Duzentos e vinte e três indivíduos de área endêmica de baixa morbidade para esquistossomose e nove pacientes hospitalizados com a forma hepatoesplênica foram submetidos ao exame de fezes e clínico e à ultra-sonografia do abdômen. De acordo com os resultado dos exames de fezes e do ultra-som eles foram agrupados do seguinte modo: G1 - 63 indivíduos sem ovos de Schistosoma mansoni nas fezes; G2 - 141 indivíduos apresentando ovos de Schistosoma mansoni nas fezes, sem ecogenicidade periportal. G3 19 indivíduos com ovos de Schistosoma mansoni nas fezes e ecogenicidade periportal entre 3-6mm.; G4 9 pacientes hepatesplênicos com ecogenicidade periportal > 6mm. Pelo exame físico do abdômen, a hepatomegalia na linha hemiclavicular direita foi constatada em G1, G2 E G3, respectivamente, em 11,1, 12,1 e 26,3%. Nos grupos G1, G2 e G3, houve espessamento periportal somente em esquistossomáticos (8,5%). Alterações patológicas leves em pacientes, as quais não puderam ser detectadas pelo exame clínico, foram evidenciadas no fígado pelo ultra-som e podem ser devidas à fibrose. O grau de fibrose periportal leve foi diminuído em 57,9% dos pacientes 12 meses após tratamento da esquistossomose com oxamniquine. Na ultra-sonografia, a média da medida do lobo esquerdo do fígado dos indivíduos de G3 foi maior que a de G1 e, a de G4 maior que a de G1 e G2. O tamanho médio do baço de G4 foi significativamente maior que o dos outros grupos e o de G3 foi maior que o de G1 e G2.
