Evaluation of a possible role of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP-1) in the pathogenesis of hydatid disease.

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1), in the serum levels of 27 patients was significantly higher and almost a double of that measured in healthy patients. Considerably higher TIMP-1 levels were recovered in patients with higher specific antibody titers and those with hepatic cysts in relation to low-titer patients and pulmonary cysts respectively, reflecting an immunologic dose-dependent and cell type-specific regulation of TIMP-1 production. Yet, these higher TIMP-1 levels stop short to be statistically significant in both groups. Patients with multi-sited hydatid cysts also show statistically insignificant higher TIMP-1 levels compared to single-sited cysts.

Prophylactic efficacy of recombinant IL-12, clindamycin alone or in combination against experimental reactivated toxoplasmosis.

Reactivation of experimental chronic toxoplasmosis was induced by daily i.m. injection of 0.1 ml hydrocortisone acetate (25 mg/ml) per mouse. Administration of clindamycin (5 mg/kg orally), rIL-12 (0.25 microg i.p.) or combination of both was done once weekly for 3 months course starting 2 days post suppression. The prophylactic effect was assessed by determination of both survival rate and brain cyst counts with histopathological examination of brain sections at different time points post suppression besides the influence of these drug regimens on interferon gamma (IFN-delta) production. All immunocompromised untreated mice exhibited increased brain cyst burdens and reduced IFN-delta production and died due to toxoplasmic encephalitis. Neither clindamycin nor rIL-12 prevented reactivation of chronic infection, however, the slight prolongation of survival was observed. Simultaneous administration of clindamycin and rIL-12 resulted in prevention of reactivation in 73.3% of the mice till the end of the experiment. The combination regimen produced significant higher levels of IFN-delta than either drug alone suggesting that both rIL-12 and clindamycin can act additively or synergistically to prevent reactivation of chronic infection with T. gondii most probably through enhancement of IFN-delta production.

Assessment of the role of soluble intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) in the pathogenesis and as a marker of disease severity in different stages of human schistosomiasis and toxoplasmosis.

The role of soluble intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1) in the pathogenesis and its relevance to disease severity was assessed in different stages of human infection with S. mansoni, S. haematobium and T. gondii. The levels of sICAM-1, obtained in the current study correlated with disease severity, degree of cell destruction and type of immune response. Highest sICAM-1 levels were observed in only two groups (hepatosplenic schistosomiasis and patients with mixed active S. haematobium and T. gondii infections), while in the other two groups (separate cases of active S. haematobium infection or latent T. gondii infection) showed no significant rise in sICAM-1 levels.

IgM and IgG cystatin capture enzyme linked immunosorbent assays: a tool for serodiagnosis and assessment of cure of acute fascioliasis after triclabendazole (TCZ; Fasinex) therapy.

This study included 71 individuals: 25 patients with confirmed acute fascioliasis, 9 patients with suspected fascioliasis, 27 patients with parasitic infections other than fascioliasis and 10 normal controls. Patients with fascioliasis were treated with TCZ as a single dose and followed up 1 and 4 months after therapy. The results showed that both IgM and IgG cystatin capture ELISAs had very high sensitivity and specificity of 100%. They were also able to diagnose early fascioliasis even before indirect haemagglutination test (IHAT) became positive. Within 4 months after treatment, only 20 patients (80%) with fascioliasis were cured as evidenced clinically, by normal eosinophil count and negative IHAT. After the first month of treatment, IgM and IgG cystatin capture ELISAs became negative in 16.6% and 83.3% of the cured cases respectively, reaching 95% for both assays after 4 months. They remained positive in 5 cases (20%) not responding to treatment.