INTRANASAL ADMINISTRATION OF SCHISTOSOMA-MANSONI ADULT WORM ANTIGEN IN COMBINATION WITH CHOLERA-TOXIN INDUCES A TH2 CELL RESPONSE

Mice immunized with soluble adult worm antigen (SWAP) in combination w ith cholera toxin (CT) displayed significantly larger numbers of lgG1, IgM and IgA secreting cells in the spleen and in the lungs as compare d to mice which had received SWAP only. The ratio of SWAP-specific IgG 1 to IgG2a antibody-secreting spleen cells was also significantly high er in the SWAP-CT group. Analysis of cytokine responses revealed that SWAP-stimulated spleen and lung cells from the SWAP-CT group produced lower levels of IFN-gamma but higher levels of IL-4 and IL-5 as compar ed to cells from the SWAP group. These findings indicate that intranas al administration of SWAP-CT induces a Th2 cell response in the spleen and in the lungs. Our findings also suggest that CT was responsible f or induction of this Th2 cell response, since intranasal administratio n of SWAP alone induced a Th1 type response in the spleen and in the l ungs.