Immunopathology of human schistosomiasis mansoni: II. NK activity and stimulation by specific antigen

• Published in: Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo
• Main Authors: L. K. Benarroch, O. Noya, B. Noya, N. E. Bianco, I. Blanca
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade de São Paulo (USP) 1988
• Subjects: Natural Killer cells (NK); S. mansoni; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0036-46651988000600002; https://doaj.org/article/0a06dd17174147dca29fab52b45c70e2

Sixteen S. mansoni infected and untreated patients (5 with recent infection and 11 with chronic disease) were evaluated for their in vitro natural killer (NK) activity against the NK sensitive target K562 cell line. NK levels in 9 out of 11 patients (82%) with chronic disease were significantly lower (mean = 15 ± 6%),compared with patients recently infected (mean = 41 ± 9% p < 0.001) and with the control group (mean = 38 ± 13% p < 0.001). However, both patients and controls NK activity was stimulated by soluble adult worm antigens (SAWA), indicating that NK function even in the chronic stage of the infection is able to respond to the parasite antigens. These results suggest the possibility of NK cell participation as effector mechanism against S. mansoni.