Interferon-gamma and interleukin-4 responses in relation to serum IgE levels in persons infected with human T lymphotropic virus type I and Strongyloides stercoralis
Fa. Neva et al., Interferon-gamma and interleukin-4 responses in relation to serum IgE levels in persons infected with human T lymphotropic virus type I and Strongyloides stercoralis, J INFEC DIS, 178(6), 1998, pp. 1856-1859
Possible immunologic interaction between infection with human T lymphotropi
c virus type 1 (HTLV-1), a retrovirus, and the intestinal parasite Strongyl
oides stercoralis was investigated in persons infected with one or both age
nts. This was done by examining the cytokine responses of peripheral blood
mononuclear cells (PBMC) to mitogens and Strongyloides antigen, PBMC of sub
jects infected with HTLV-1 spontaneously produced interferon (IFN)-gamma wi
th levels that correlated inversely with serum IgE levels. HTLV-1-infected
subjects also had poor interleukin (IL)-4 responses to mitogenic stimulatio
n, unlike persons without HTLV-1 infection. It is postulated that the IFN-g
amma produced by activated T cells in some HTLV-l-infected persons acts to
down-regulate IL-4 with consequent reduction of serum IgE levels, The impai
red IgE responses and other effects of IL-4 down-regulation may be contribu
ting factors to more severe disease and impaired response to treatment of s
trongyloidiasis in some HTLV-1-infected persons.