Antibody and cytokine responses in Dracunculus medinensis patients at distinct states of infection.

Abstract

Dracunculiasis is a promising candidate for eradication, but transmission of Dracunculus medinensis and recrudescence of the disease have been observed repeatedly. In the present investigation, the D. medinensis-specific cellular cytokine response profiles and the parasite-specific antibody subclass reactivity were evaluated in dracunculiasis patients at distinct states of infection. Analysis of the cellular cytokine response in dracunculiasis patients disclosed a D. medinensis antigen-specific depression of IFN-gamma production with patent D. medinensis infection, while the T helper type 2 cytokine IL-10 was similar in patent, post-patent and control individuals, and IL-5 production was always the highest in controls. In parallel, diminished IFN-gamma and IL-12 responses to antigens from Ascaris lumbricoides, Entamoeba histolytica and mycobacteria were observed in patent and post-patent dracunculiasis cases. The parasite-specific IgG(1) and IgG(4) subclass reactivity profiles corresponded with the D. medinensis infection state, and a clear distinction between patent and post-patent patients and controls was found. Overall a depressed cytokine release was observed with patent D. medinensis, which extended beyond the parasite-specific immune responsiveness. The detection of D. medinensis-specific IgG(1) and IgG(4) isotypes may help to distinguish newly exposed, patent and post-patent D. medinensis infections.

• Authors: Stefanie Knopp, Ignace K Amegbo, David M Hamm, Hartwig Schulz-Key, Meba Banla, Peter T Soboslay
• Journal: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg) Vol. 102 Issue 3 Pg. 277-83 (Mar 2008) ISSN: 0035-9203 [Print] England
• PMID: 18258273 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Helminth
• Cytokines
• Immunoglobulin G

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Animals
• Antibodies, Helminth (analysis, blood)
• Child
• Cytokines (immunology)
• Dracunculiasis (epidemiology, immunology)
• Dracunculus Nematode (immunology)
• Female
• Humans
• Immunity, Cellular
• Immunoglobulin G (immunology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Statistics as Topic
• Togo (epidemiology)