EVIDENCE THAT CELLULAR IMMUNE-RESPONSES TO SOLUBLE AND MEMBRANE-ASSOCIATED ANTIGENS ARE INDEPENDENTLY REGULATED DURING HUMAN SCHISTOSOMIASIS-MANSONI

We have made a comparative analysis of human cellular and antibody res ponses to membrane associated adult worm antigens (Mb-A), soluble adul t worm antigens (SWAP) and soluble egg antigens (SEA) derived from Sch istosoma mansoni. Chronically infected patients with the intestinal (I ) and hepatosplenic (HS) forms of the disease as well as non-infected putative immune 'endemic normals' (EN), were studied. We observed that the cellular responses, of individuals, to the two adult worm prepara tions, SWAP and Mb-A, may be distinct and can be related to the occurr ence of resistance or pathology. The resistant group (EN) presented hi gher levels of both cellular prolifelation, and IFN-gamma production, in response to Mb-A as compared with SWAP whereas HS individuals prese nted higher levels of cellular proliferation to SWAP as compared with Mb-A. Individuals with intestinal disease had similar levels of prolif eration to both antigens. The response to SEA by all groups was genera lly similar, and not predictive of any clinical form. The specific ant ibody response to the three antigens were in general higher among infe cted patients than in resistant EN individuals. These results support the hypothesis that the response to adult worm antigens may be pivotal in determining both the development of resistance and severity of dis ease.