T cell clones from Schistosoma haematobium infected and exposed individuals lacking distinct cytokine profiles for Th1/Th2 polarisation

T cell clones were derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of Schis tosoma haematobium infected and uninfected individuals living in an endemic area. The clones were stimulated with S. haematobium worm and egg antigens and purified protein derivative. Attempts were made to classify the T cell clones according to production of the cytokines IL-4, IL-5 and IFN-gamma. All the T cell clones derived were observed to produce cytokines used as ma rkers for the classification of Th1/Th2 subsets, However, the 'signature' c ytokines marking each subset were produced at different levels. The classif ication depended on the dominating cytokine type, which was having either T h0/1 or Th0/2 subsets. The results indicated that no distinct cytokine prof iles for polarisation of Th1/Th2 subsets were detected in these S. haematob ium infected humans. The balance in the profiles of cytokines marking each subset were related to infection and re-infection status after treatment wi th praziquantel. In the present study, as judged by the changes in infectio n status with time, the T cell responses appeared to be less stable and mor e dynamic, suggesting that small quantitative changes in the balance of the cytokines response could result in either susceptibility or resistant to S . haematobium infection.