The spleen is an important site of T cell activation during human hepatosplenic schistosomiasis

Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 1998:93 Suppl 1:159-64. doi: 10.1590/s0074-02761998000700023.

Abstract

We have undertaken a comparative immunophenotypic study of spleen cells from hepatosplenic patients (HS) and uninfected individuals (NOR) using flow cytometry. Our data did not show any significant differences in the mean percentage of T-cells and B-cells between the two groups. Analysis of activated T-cells demonstrated that HS present an increased percentage of CD3+HLA-DR+ splenocytes in comparison to NOR. Analysis of T-cell subsets demonstrated a significant increase on the percentage of both activated CD4+ T-splenocytes and CD8+ cells in HS. We did not find any difference in the mean percentage of CD28+ T-cells. Analysis of the B-cell compartment did not show any difference on the percentage of B1-splenocytes. However, the spleen seems to be an important reservoir/source for B1 lymphocytes during hepatosplenic disease, since after splenectomy we found a decreased the percentage of circulating B1-lymphocytes. We observed an increase on the percentage of CD2+ CD3- lymphocytes in the spleen of HS suggesting that the loss of CD3 by activated T-cells or the expansion of NK-cells might play a role in the development/maintenance of splenomegaly.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / blood
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
  • Liver Diseases, Parasitic / immunology*
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Schistosomiasis / immunology*
  • Spleen / cytology
  • Spleen / immunology
  • Splenic Diseases / immunology*
  • Splenic Diseases / parasitology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal