Chemotherapy-induced, age-related changes in antischistosome antibody responses

Parasite Immunol. 2003 Feb;25(2):87-97. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-3024.2003.00610.x.

Abstract

Humoral responses directed against Schistosoma mansoni soluble egg antigen were studied in Zimbabwean children before and after treatment with either praziquantel (PZQ) or oxamniquine (OXAM). Treated children showed a significant increase in the proportion producing IgE and IgG3 and in mean levels of IgE, IgM, IgG3 six weeks post-treatment. At 18 weeks post-treatment, the proportion of treated children producing IgA, IgE, and IgG3 increased while the proportion producing IgG1 and IgG4 decreased. Mean levels of IgA, IgE, and IgG3 were higher than pre-treatment levels while levels of IgG1, IgG4 and IgM were lower. Statistical analyses showed that the magnitude of change in levels of IgE, IgM and IgG3 at 6 weeks post-treatment and of IgE, IgG3 and IgG4 at 18 weeks post-treatment was significantly greater in treated compared to untreated children, and there were no significant differences in immune responses between children treated with praziquantel and those treated with oxamniquine. The magnitude of change in IgE at 6 and 18 weeks, IgM at 6 weeks and IgG3 at 18 weeks post-treatment were significantly associated with age in treated but not in untreated children, with the change being greater in younger children. This suggests that treatment induced a change in the age-antibody relationship for these isotypes, and that the age-antibody relationship is not robust to chemotherapy. Pre-treatment infection levels were significantly associated (positive correlation) with the magnitude of change for IgE and IgG3 at 18 weeks post-treatment. Taken together, these results indicate that the age-antibody relationship observed in these children is due, at least in part, to cumulative host experience of parasite antigens and not host age alone.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Age Factors
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Helminth / blood*
  • Antiplatyhelmintic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antiplatyhelmintic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Endemic Diseases
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin A / blood
  • Immunoglobulin E / blood
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Immunoglobulin M / blood
  • Male
  • Oxamniquine / pharmacology
  • Oxamniquine / therapeutic use
  • Parasite Egg Count
  • Praziquantel / pharmacology
  • Praziquantel / therapeutic use
  • Schistosoma mansoni / immunology*
  • Schistosomiasis mansoni / drug therapy*
  • Schistosomiasis mansoni / epidemiology
  • Schistosomiasis mansoni / immunology*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antibodies, Helminth
  • Antiplatyhelmintic Agents
  • Immunoglobulin A
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Oxamniquine
  • Immunoglobulin E
  • Praziquantel