Host immune response to Toxoplasma gondii and Ascaris lumbricoides in a highly endemic area: evidence of parasite co-immunomodulation properties influencing the outcome of both infections

• Main Authors: Lílian MG Bahia-Oliveira, Juliana Azevedo da Silva, Alba Lucinia Peixoto-Rangel, Marcela Santana Bastos Boechat, Annelise M Wilken Abreu Oliveira, Cristiano L Massara, Ricardo Guerra Peixe
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Ministério da Saúde 2009-03-01
• Series: Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz.
• Subjects: Toxoplasma gondii; Ascaris lumbricoides; uveitis; retinochoroiditis; environmental contamination; cytokines
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0074-02762009000200021
• ISSN: 0074-0276; 1678-8060

Toxoplasmosis and ascaridiasis evoke polar Th-1 and Th-2 host immune responses, respectively. A study to investigate the specific cytokine profile production by in vitro cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from individuals living under precarious sanitary conditions in a highly endemic area for the parasites Toxoplasma gondii and Ascaris lumbricoides was conducted. High levels of both IFN-³ (Th-1) and IL-13 (Th-2) were observed in groups of co-infected individuals presenting toxoplasmic ocular lesions. Significantly lower IL-10 and TGF-² levels were produced by co-infected individuals in comparison with groups of individuals not infected with A. lumbricoides and either positive or negative for T. gondii living under good sanitary conditions (control groups). The possible influence of co-parasitism on the clinical presentation of ocular toxoplasmosis is discussed.