TY - JOUR

T1 - Suppression of basophil histamine release and other IgE-dependent responses in childhood Schistosoma mansoni/hookworm coinfection

AU - Pinot de Moira, Angela

AU - Fitzsimmons, Colin M

AU - Jones, Frances M

AU - Wilson, Shona

AU - Cahen, Pierre

AU - Tukahebwa, Edridah

AU - Mpairwe, Harriet

AU - Mwatha, Joseph K

AU - Bethony, Jeffrey M

AU - Skov, Per S.

AU - Kabatereine, Narcis B

AU - Dunne, David W

N1 - © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - BACKGROUND: The poor correlation between allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (asIgE) and clinical signs of allergy in helminth infected populations suggests that helminth infections could protect against allergy by uncoupling asIgE from its effector mechanisms. We investigated this hypothesis in Ugandan schoolchildren coinfected with Schistosoma mansoni and hookworm.METHODS: Skin prick test (SPT) sensitivity to house dust mite allergen (HDM) and current wheeze were assessed pre-anthelmintic treatment. Nonspecific (anti-IgE), helminth-specific, and HDM-allergen-specific basophil histamine release (HR), plus helminth- and HDM-specific IgE and IgG4 responses were measured pre- and post-treatment.RESULTS: Nonspecific- and helminth-specific-HR, and associations between helminth-specific IgE and helminth-specific HR increased post-treatment. Hookworm infection appeared to modify the relationship between circulating levels of HDM-IgE and HR: a significant positive association was observed among children without detectable hookworm infection, but no association was observed among infected children. In addition, hookworm infection was associated with a significantly reduced risk of wheeze, and IgG4 to somatic adult hookworm antigen with a reduced risk of HDM-SPT sensitivity. There was no evidence for S. mansoni infection having a similar suppressive effect on HDM-HR or symptoms of allergy.CONCLUSIONS: Basophil responsiveness appears suppressed during chronic helminth infection; at least in hookworm infection, this suppression may protect against allergy.

AB - BACKGROUND: The poor correlation between allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (asIgE) and clinical signs of allergy in helminth infected populations suggests that helminth infections could protect against allergy by uncoupling asIgE from its effector mechanisms. We investigated this hypothesis in Ugandan schoolchildren coinfected with Schistosoma mansoni and hookworm.METHODS: Skin prick test (SPT) sensitivity to house dust mite allergen (HDM) and current wheeze were assessed pre-anthelmintic treatment. Nonspecific (anti-IgE), helminth-specific, and HDM-allergen-specific basophil histamine release (HR), plus helminth- and HDM-specific IgE and IgG4 responses were measured pre- and post-treatment.RESULTS: Nonspecific- and helminth-specific-HR, and associations between helminth-specific IgE and helminth-specific HR increased post-treatment. Hookworm infection appeared to modify the relationship between circulating levels of HDM-IgE and HR: a significant positive association was observed among children without detectable hookworm infection, but no association was observed among infected children. In addition, hookworm infection was associated with a significantly reduced risk of wheeze, and IgG4 to somatic adult hookworm antigen with a reduced risk of HDM-SPT sensitivity. There was no evidence for S. mansoni infection having a similar suppressive effect on HDM-HR or symptoms of allergy.CONCLUSIONS: Basophil responsiveness appears suppressed during chronic helminth infection; at least in hookworm infection, this suppression may protect against allergy.

KW - Adolescent

KW - Albendazole/therapeutic use

KW - Anthelmintics/therapeutic use

KW - Child

KW - Histamine/metabolism

KW - Hookworm Infections/complications

KW - Humans

KW - Immunoglobulin E/metabolism

KW - Praziquantel/therapeutic use

KW - Schistosomiasis mansoni/complications

KW - Uganda/epidemiology

U2 - 10.1093/infdis/jiu234

DO - 10.1093/infdis/jiu234

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 24782451

VL - 210

SP - 1198

EP - 1206

JO - Journal of Infectious Diseases

JF - Journal of Infectious Diseases

SN - 0022-1899

IS - 8

ER -