SERUM LEVELS OF EOSINOPHIL CATIONIC PROTEIN, EOSINOPHIL-DERIVED NEUROTOXIN AND MYELOPEROXIDASE IN INFECTIONS WITH FILARIAE AND SCHISTOSOMES

The serum levels of three major granulocyte proteins were measured in patients with onchocerciasis, bancroftian filariais and intestinal sch istosomiasis and compared to controls from patients with malaria, Afri cans living in areas not endemic for these infections and healthy Germ ans. The investigation comprised the determination of the eosinophil g ranule proteins eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and eosinophil-deriv ed neurotoxin (EDN/EPX), and the neutrophil/monocyte granule protein m yeloperoxidase (MPO). ECP and EDN/EPX levels were found elevated only in the three helminth infections that are associated with eosinophilia , while MPO was found elevated in all tested disease groups. The level s of eosinophil granule proteins observed in the helminth diseases by far exceeded those described for bronchial asthma and atopic dermatiti s. ECP, EDN/EPX and MPO serum levels reflect the ongoing disease and a re related to functional activity of the respective leukopoetic system . ECP and EDN/EPX appear to be markers of the eosinophil effector syst em and MPO a marker of the neutrophil and/or monocyte/macrophage effec tor system. Significantly higher ECP levels in chronic hyperreactive o nchodermatitis (sowda) versus generalized onchocerciasis seem to refle ct an augmented degree of antigenic stimulation, eosinophil activation and eosinophil turnover rates, indicating a more active mechanism of parasite clearance in sowda patients.