INDUCTION OF HEPATIC PATHOLOGY IN SCID-HU MICE ENGRAFTED WITH PERIPHERAL-BLOOD LYMPHOCYTES OF PATIENTS WITH SCHISTOSOMIASIS-JAPONICA

SCID mice were engrafted with peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) deriv ed from persons currently or previously infected with Schistosoma japo nicum. After immunization with soluble worm antigenic preparation, the SCID-Hu mice were analyzed for a human immune response. ELISA reveale d a low titer of human antibody recognizing soluble egg antigens in 2 of 10 mice. One mouse had detectable levels of interleukin (IL)-2 and gamma-interferon, TH1 phenotype cytokines. All mice had elevated level s of IL-4, a TH2 phenotype cytokine. The human cytokine profile of the mice paralleled the patient's serum profile at clinical examination. In addition, all mice had substantial hepatic pathology, including inf lammatory cell infiltrates and macrovesicular fat deposition. The data indicate that activation of PBL from patients with a history of schis tosomiasis japonica infection can result in focal hepatic pathology, w hich may be driven by specific cytokines.