Gamma delta T cells in non‐immune patients during primary schistosomal infection. Issue 1 (16th May 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schwartz, Eli; Rosenthal, Etti; Bank, Ilan
• Is Part Of: Immunity, inflammation and disease. Volume 2:Issue 1 (2014)
• Page Start: 56
• Page End: 61
• Publication Date: 2014-05-16
• Subjects: Immunology -- Periodicals; Immunity -- Periodicals; Inflammation -- Periodicals; 616.079
• DOI: 10.1002/iid3.18
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-4527

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="iid318-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <p>The mevalonate pathway is critical for the survival of <italic>Schistosoma</italic>. γδ T cells, a small subset of peripheral blood (PB) T cells, recognize low molecular weight phosphorylated antigens in the mevalonate pathway, which drive their expansion to exert protective and immunoregulatory effects. To evaluate their role in schistosomiasis, we measured γδ T cells in the PB of non‐immune travelers who contracted <italic>Schistosoma hematobium</italic> or <italic>Schistosoma mansoni</italic> in Africa. The maximal level of γδ T‐cells following infection was 5.78 ± 2.19% of the total T cells, versus 3.72 ± 3.15% in 16 healthy controls [<italic>P</italic> = 0.09] with no difference between <italic>S. hematobium</italic> and <italic>S. mansoni</italic> in this regard. However, among the nine patients in the cohort who presented with acute schistosomiasis syndrome (AS), the level (3.5 ± 1.9%) was significantly lower than in those who did not (8.6 ± 6.4%, <italic>P</italic> < 0.05), both before and after therapy. Furthermore, γδ T cells increased significantly in response to praziquantel therapy. In a patient with marked expansion of γδ T cells, most expressed the Vδ2 gene segment, a hallmark of cells responding to cognate antigens in the mevalonate pathways of the parasite or the human host. These results suggest an immunoregulatory role of antigen responsive γδ T cells in the clinical manifestations of early schistosomal infection.</p> </sec> </abstract>