Killing of schistosomula of Schistosoma mansoni by macrophages: induction by T-cell clone-derived lymphokines and interferon-gamma

Increased immunogenicity and protection of recombinant Sm14 antigens by heat-killed Cutibacterium acnes in BALB/c mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni

After many years of the excessive use of praziquantel against Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni), it has already led to the development of drug resistance. While schistosomiasis is still affecting millions of people every year, vaccination may be one realistic alternative way to control the disease. Currently, S. mansoni 14-kDa fatty acid-binding protein (Sm14) has shown promising results as a vaccine antigen. Yet, the use of an adjuvant may be necessary to further increase the effectiveness of the vaccine. Herein, we investigated the potential of using heat-killed Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) as an adjuvant for recombinant Sm14 (rSm14). Immunization of mice with C. acnes-adjuvanted rSm14 showed increased humoral immune responses, compared with mice immunized with rSm14 alone. Additionally, C. acnes-adjuvanted rSm14 vaccination provided higher protection to mice against S. mansoni infection and liver injuries. These results suggest that C. acnes increases the immunogenicity of rSm14, which leads to better protection against S. mansoni infection. Therefore, heat-killed C. acnes may be a promising adjuvant to use with rSm14.

Cytokine and eicosanoid regulation by Schistosoma mansoniduring LSE penetration

Cercarial penetration, in low to moderate numbers, does not cause a normal skin inflammatory response; therefore, the authors sought to determine whether cercariae can down-regulate keratinocyte activation and thus the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and eicosanoids. Human living skin equivalent (LSE, Organogenesis) consisting of dermal, epidermal and stratum corneum-like layers was used as the skin substrate. The surface of the LSE membrane was exposed to 100 ng IFNgamma or ~850 cercariae for 18 h. Incubation media and tissue was then assayed for IL-1alpha, IL-6, IL-8, TNFalpha, 5-HETE, 12-HETE, PGF(2), LTB(4), and LTC(4) via RIA and Western Blots. TNFalpha was not detected. Secreted IL-1alpha levels were (mean +/- S.E.M. (n)): Control, 1.03 ng +/- 0.15 (11); IFNgamma 1.90 ng +/- 0.48 (5); cercariae, 1.79 ng +/- 0.22 (22). In spite of this increase, cercariae down-regulated IL-8 (cercariae 11.13 +/- 1.70 ng vs. IFNgamma = 16.47 +/- 0.29 ng, p = 0.04) and LTB(4) (cercariae = 98.86 +/- 19.65 pg/0.1 ml vs. IFNgamma = 193.42 +/- 44.21 pg/0.1 ml p = 0.02). No changes were seen in IL-6, 12-HETE, 5-HETE, and PGE(2) levels. It is concluded that cercarial penetration causes a release of IL-1alpha consistent with skin trauma; however, schistosomulae may regulate the production of chemotactic (neutrophils, macrophages, T-cells, etc.) and activation factors such as IL-8 and LTB(4).

Enhancement of eosinophil-mediated cytotoxicity to schistosomula of Schistosoma mansoni by autologous mononuclear cells from patients

Adherent mononuclear cells (monolayer), when co-cultured with autologous peripheral blood eosinophils isolated from patients treated for Schistosoma mansoni infections, enhanced the eosinophil-mediated killing of antibody coated schistosomula. The monolayer increased the activity of the eosinophils by 225%, and was observed in 80% of the patients studied. Heat labile factors other than complement, present in immune serum, further enhanced the ability of eosinophils to kill schistosomula in the presence of the monolayer. On their own the adherent cells did not mediate obvious damage to the parasite. Eosinophils that had been pre-incubated with the monolayer (100 mins) and tested separately, killed equal numbers of schistosomula as in the co-culture assay; this excludes the possibility of concurrent schistosomula cytotoxicity by the two cell populations. The ability of the monolayer to activate eosinophils was not altered by inhibitors of protein synthesis. The monolayer was largely consistent of monocytes as demonstrated by an over 96% positive staining for non-specific esterases.

Larvicidal properties of macrophages induced by cloned murine schistosomal egg antigen-specific CD4 positive T-helper lymphocytes

The role of T-helper (TH) lymphocytes in activating peritoneal macrophages (PM) to kill larvae of the helminth Schistosoma mansoni (schistosomula) was investigated with the use of egg antigen-specific CD4 positive TH clones of both the TH1 and TH2 types. Results showed that stimulated TH1 clones, in exceedingly small numbers, or supernatants thereof, conferred on PM the ability to kill schistosomula. The molecule responsible for PM activation was found to be interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). IFN-gamma-induced PM larvicidal activity was dependent on live cells, energy, as well as protein synthesis, and appeared to be mediated by toxic nitrogen metabolites. In contrast, egg antigen-specific TH2 clones, or their supernants, failed to induce PM larval killing, as they did not secrete IFN-gamma, or any equivalent macrophage activating factor. We postulate a mechanism by which egg antigen-specific TH1 clones may be capable of playing a critical role in the resistance to schistosomal reinfection through IFN-gamma-mediated activation of macrophage helminthotoxicity.

Biological effect of interferon-gamma during the course of experimental infection of rat by Schistosoma mansoni

We demonstrate here that a second mechanism of platelet activation dependent on lymphokine could also take place in the expression of platelet cytotoxicity against Schistosoma mansoni in vitro. Indeed, IgE, as previously described, but also IFN-gamma, present in the sera of infected rats, together induce platelets from normal rats into cytotoxic effectors for the parasitic larvae. This second mechanism appears also effective in vivo since the passive transfer of normal platelets treated by recombinant IFN-gamma (rIFN-gamma) and the administration of rIFN-gamma to rats conferred a protective immunity to S. mansoni.

T cell clones: tools to investigate host-parasite relationships

T cell clones provide valuable tools to investigate host-parasite relationships. In this review, methodological aspects of T cell cloning are briefly considered and in addition, recent investigations employing this technology are discussed in light of their contribution to our understanding of the immunology of parasitic infections.

Preactivation of macrophages in mice acutely infected with Schistosoma mansoni

This paper shows that peritoneal murine macrophages become preactivated in vivo during the course of a Schistosoma mansoni infection. Thus, less macrophage-activating factor (MAF) was required to induce in vitro tumoricidal and schistosomulicidal activity in macrophages from S. mansoni-infected mice than in macrophages from uninfected control animals. Moreover, the respiratory burst activity, as measured by chemiluminescence, was enhanced in macrophages from S. mansoni-infected mice as compared to controls, whether or not lymphokine (LK) was present in the macrophage cultures. This response appeared at 3 weeks and persisted at least until 12 weeks after infection. Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) is most likely involved in the mechanisms leading to such an increased cytolytic and oxidative activity, since in vitro experiments showed: 1) that less IFN-gamma was required to induce tumoricidal activity in macrophages from infected as compared to macrophages from uninfected animals, 2) that the activity of (2'-5')-adenylate synthetase (2'-5' A-synthetase), an enzyme strongly induced by IFN, was elevated in cells from livers of S. mansoni-infected mice.

Fungicidal activation of murine macrophages by recombinant gamma interferon

Alveolar macrophages from BALB/c mice readily phagocytized endospores (2 to 5 micron) and arthroconidia of Coccidioides immitis in vitro. Within 24 to 30 h at 37 degrees C, the phagocytized endospores started developing into spherules, and the arthroconidia formed germ tubes and hyphae. However, these processes did not occur if the macrophages were incubated with murine recombinant gamma interferon (rIFN-gamma) during infection with C. immitis. Treatment with rIFN-gamma activated the fungicidal capabilities of the alveolar macrophages, as evidenced by the 50% reduction in the CFU which could be recovered from macrophages infected in the presence of gamma interferon compared with alveolar macrophages infected without gamma interferon (P less than 0.05). Similar results were seen with peritoneal macrophages incubated with rIFN-gamma and infected with C. immitis. As little as 10 U of rIFN-gamma per ml reduced by half the number of C. immitis CFU which could be recovered from the phagocytes 8 h after infection with arthroconidia, although interferon alone did not affect the viability of the fungi.