This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Reimert, C. M. Articles by Vennervald, B. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Reimert, C. M. Articles by Vennervald, B. J.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Clinical and Vaccine Immunology, May 2006, p. 584-593, Vol. 13, No. 5
1071-412X/06/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/CVI.13.5.584-593.2006
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Eosinophil Activity in Schistosoma mansoni Infections In Vivo and In Vitro in Relation to Plasma Cytokine Profile Pre- and Posttreatment with Praziquantel

DBL, Institute for Health Research and Development, Charlottenlund, Denmark,¹ Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom,² Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya,³ Vector Control Division, Ugandan Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda⁴

Received 18 November 2005/ Returned for modification 10 January 2006/ Accepted 28 February 2006

Eosinophil activity in vivo and in vitro was studied in relation to infection intensities and plasma cytokine profiles of 51 Schistosoma mansoni-infected Ugandan fishermen before treatment and 24 h and 3 weeks posttreatment. Blood eosinophil numbers significantly declined 24 h posttreatment, but significant eosinophilia had developed by 3 weeks posttreatment. Cellular eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) content increased significantly during the transient eosinopenia but was significantly reduced 3 weeks later. No similar reduction in cellular eosinophil protein X (EPX) content was seen. Before treatment, S. mansoni infection intensity was positively correlated with 24-h boosts in plasma interleukin-5 (IL-5) and IL-6 levels, which were in turn negatively correlated with the posttreatment fall in eosinophil numbers. Significant correlations were observed between pretreatment infection intensities and plasma IL-10 and eotaxin levels. Treatment induced significant fluctuations in plasma IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-), and eotaxin levels. Optimal relative release of ECP and EPX in vitro was detected in S. mansoni soluble egg antigen-stimulated cultures during transient eosinopenia. Our data suggest that blood eosinophils are activated during S. mansoni infection and that treatment induces a burst in released antigens, causing increased production of IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, and eotaxin; a drop in TNF- levels; and a transient sequestration of eosinophils, which leaves fewer degranulated eosinophils in the circulation 24 h posttreatment, followed by the development of eosinophilia 3 weeks later. During these events, it appears that preferential release of ECP occurs in vivo. Moreover, it is possible that infection intensity-dependent levels of plasma IL-10 may be involved in the prevention of treatment-induced anaphylactic reactions.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Martins-Leite, P., Gazzinelli, G., Alves-Oliveira, L. F., Gazzinelli, A., Malaquias, L. C. C., Correa-Oliveira, R., Teixeira-Carvalho, A., Silveira, A. M. S. (2008). Effect of Chemotherapy with Praziquantel on the Production of Cytokines and Morbidity Associated with Schistosomiasis Mansoni. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 52: 2780-2786 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Wilson, S., Jones, F. M., Mwatha, J. K., Kimani, G., Booth, M., Kariuki, H. C., Vennervald, B. J., Ouma, J. H., Muchiri, E., Dunne, D. W. (2008). Hepatosplenomegaly Is Associated with Low Regulatory and Th2 Responses to Schistosome Antigens in Childhood Schistosomiasis and Malaria Coinfection. Infect. Immun. 76: 2212-2218 [Abstract] [Full Text]