DIFFERENCES IN CYTOKINE RESPONSES TO ONCHOCERCA-VOLVULUS EXTRACT AND RECOMBINANT OV33 AND OVL3-1 PROTEINS IN EXPOSED SUBJECTS WITH VARIOUS PARASITOLOGICAL AND CLINICAL STATES

Subjects with generalized onchocerciasis (GEN), with the sowdah form, and with exposure but without onchocerciasis (endemic normal/putativel y immune; EN/PI) were studied for cytokine responses to Onchocerca vol vulus extract (OvAg) and recombinant Ov33 and OvL3-1 proteins. Higher levels of cytokines were produced in response to OvAgs in sowdah and E N/PI than in GEN subjects. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells did not produce interferon-gamma in response to antigens. OvAg induced interle ukin (IL)-5, IL-2, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (G M-CSF), and soluble IL-2 receptor. EN/PI and sowdah persons produced s ignificantly more IL-5 and IL-2 than GEN subjects, and EN/PI subjects had significantly higher GM-CSF levels than GEN persons. The low IL-5 and GM-CSF levels in GEN subjects were increased by addition of exogen ous IL-2. Ov33 and OvL3-1 stimulated production of IL-10 and less IL-5 and IL-2. The study groups did not show a strict Th2-like cytokine re sponse.