The immunoglobulin E (IgE) response is generally considered an essential component of the host defense against parasitic helminths such as Schistosoma mansoni. In contrast, work on antischistosome vaccines suggests that interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) is the critical immune mediator for vaccine-induced immunity to the parasite. In this study, the total IgE response to a primary S. mansoni infection was suppressed by anti-IgE treatment in both normal mice and in mice with defective IFN genes (gene knockout [GKO]). Reduction of the IgE response resulted in decreased worm burden and a decrease in the number of eggs produced per worm in both normal and GKO mice. Whereas anti-IgE treatment also resulted in reduced hepatosplenomegaly, granulomas around existing schistosome eggs showed normal cellularity. Serum interleukin 4 levels fell in response to the reduction in serum IgE as well. The data suggest that IgE plays a detrimental, rather than beneficial, role for the host in schistosomiasis. Furthermore, the absence of IFN-gamma was found to be of little consequence to the host-response to adults or eggs in a primary schistosome infection.
Article|
July 01 1994
Anti-immunoglobulin E treatment decreases worm burden and egg production in Schistosoma mansoni-infected normal and interferon gamma knockout mice.
P Amiri,
P Amiri
Department of Immunology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California 94080-4990.
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M Haak-Frendscho,
M Haak-Frendscho
Department of Immunology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California 94080-4990.
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K Robbins,
K Robbins
Department of Immunology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California 94080-4990.
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J H McKerrow,
J H McKerrow
Department of Immunology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California 94080-4990.
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T Stewart,
T Stewart
Department of Immunology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California 94080-4990.
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P Jardieu
P Jardieu
Department of Immunology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California 94080-4990.
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P Amiri
Department of Immunology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California 94080-4990.
M Haak-Frendscho
Department of Immunology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California 94080-4990.
K Robbins
Department of Immunology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California 94080-4990.
J H McKerrow
Department of Immunology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California 94080-4990.
T Stewart
Department of Immunology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California 94080-4990.
P Jardieu
Department of Immunology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California 94080-4990.
Online ISSN: 1540-9538
Print ISSN: 0022-1007
J Exp Med (1994) 180 (1): 43–51.
Citation
P Amiri, M Haak-Frendscho, K Robbins, J H McKerrow, T Stewart, P Jardieu; Anti-immunoglobulin E treatment decreases worm burden and egg production in Schistosoma mansoni-infected normal and interferon gamma knockout mice.. J Exp Med 1 July 1994; 180 (1): 43–51. doi: https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.180.1.43
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