Ascaris lumbricoides-induced suppression of total and specific IgE responses in atopic subjects is interleukin 10-independent and associated with an increase of CD25+ cells

Matera, Giovanni; Giancotti, Aida; Scalise, Sonia; Pulicari, Maria Concetta; Maselli, Rosario; Piizzi, Chiara; Pelaia, Girolamo; Tancrè, Valentina; Muto, Valentina; Doldo, Patrizia; Cosco, Vincenzo; Cosimo, Paola; Capicotto, Renata; Quirino, Angela; Scalzo, Rosaria; Liberto, Maria Carla; Parlato, Giuseppe; Focà, Alfredo

doi:10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2008.06.015

« Previous Next »Diagnostic Microbiology & Infectious Disease
Volume 62, Issue 3 , Pages 280-286, November 2008

Ascaris lumbricoides-induced suppression of total and specific IgE responses in atopic subjects is interleukin 10-independent and associated with an increase of CD25⁺ cells

Giovanni Matera
- Institute of Microbiology, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +39-0961-712427; fax: +39-0961-770403.
Aida Giancotti
- Institute of Microbiology, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Sonia Scalise
- Institute of Microbiology, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Maria Concetta Pulicari
- Institute of Microbiology, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Rosario Maselli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Respiratory Diseases, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Cantanzaro, Italy
Chiara Piizzi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Respiratory Diseases, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Cantanzaro, Italy
Girolamo Pelaia
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Respiratory Diseases, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Cantanzaro, Italy
Valentina Tancrè
- Institute of Microbiology, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Valentina Muto
- Institute of Microbiology, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Patrizia Doldo
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Gastrointestinal Diseases, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Cantanzaro, Italy
Vincenzo Cosco
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Gastrointestinal Diseases, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Cantanzaro, Italy
Paola Cosimo
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Gastrointestinal Diseases, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Cantanzaro, Italy
Renata Capicotto
- Institute of Microbiology, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Angela Quirino
- Institute of Microbiology, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Rosaria Scalzo
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Clinical Chemistry, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Cantanzaro, Italy
Maria Carla Liberto
- Institute of Microbiology, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Giuseppe Parlato
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Clinical Chemistry, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Cantanzaro, Italy
Alfredo Focà
- Institute of Microbiology, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy

Received 13 February 2008; accepted 25 June 2008. published online 18 September 2008.

Abstract

Ascaris presence in humans has been associated with high levels of blood eosinophils and serum IgE. This study was designed to address the influence of Ascaris infection on allergic and inflammatory parameters of atopic subjects. A cross-sectional design was used, and atopic individuals to be assessed were divided into 3 groups including Ascaris-infected, anti-Ascaris IgG-positive (seropositive), and control subjects. All subjects enrolled had positive skin test reactivity to at least 1 perennial or seasonal allergen; however, levels of C-reactive protein, C₃, and C₄ were within normal range values. Eosinophil percentage was not significantly different among the groups studied. Total IgE and specific anti-Ascaris IgE levels in the seropositive group were significantly higher than concentrations found in both control and infected groups. Interleukin (IL)-4 release in Ascaris-infected patients was significantly increased versus seropositives, who were able to produce more IL-4 than controls. The levels of IL-10 were lower in the seropositives as well as infected subjects in comparison with controls. CD25⁺ lymphocyte populations were significantly increased in the infected group versus the seropositives as well as the controls. Lung function tests of some selected seropositive subjects were significantly impaired. The same parameters of a representative infected patient were not different from controls. Our data on T helper type 2 cells (Th2) and regulatory T cells (Treg) features, as well as CD25⁺ lymphocyte increase, suggest an Ascaris-induced mechanism leading to parasite survival. Moreover, the stable control of both T helper type 1 cells (Th1) and Th2 immunity cascades, paralleled by the absence of overwhelming inflammatory systemic reactions and lack of allergic syndromes, may result in a favorable host condition.