X-linked immunodeficiency affects the outcome of Schistosoma mansoni infection in the murine model

The incidence of the X-linked immunodeficiency (Xid) on the outcome of Schi stosoma mansoni infection has been evaluated through a comparative analysis of parasitological and immune parameters in two different mouse strains: c ontrol BALB/c and BALE. Xid mice which carry the Xid mutation and lack BI ( CD5(+) B) cells. This study clearly demonstrates that infected BI cell-defi cient animals display a higher susceptibility to S. mansoni infection as re vealed by an increase in the tissue egg loads and a significantly elevated mortality, as well as an increase in the granuloma densities, The analysis of the humoral and the cellular responses, conducted in the same experiment al conditions, indicates differences in terms of cytokine production after specific antigenic stimulation of splenocytes. Larger amounts of IFN-gamma and IL-4 are observed in BALE. Xid mice while IL-10 production is reduced I n parallel, the study of the specific antibody isotype profiles shows highe r amounts of specific IgE and IgG1 antibodies and lower amounts of IgM and IgA in BALE. Xid mice. Taken together, these observations support the idea that B cells are playing a role in the ability of mice to tolerate infectio n with Schistosoma mansoni.