AUTHOR=Franco Karine Garcez Schuster , de Amorim Fabio Jorge Ramalho , Santos Mário Adriano , Rollemberg Carla Virgínia Vieira , de Oliveira Fabricia Alvisi , França Alex Vianey Callado , Santos Camilla Natália Oliveira , Magalhães Lucas Sousa , Cazzaniga Rodrigo Anselmo , de Lima Frederico Santana , Benevides Luciana , Carregaro Vanessa , Silva João Santana , Brito Hugo Leite de Farias , Fernandes Daniel Alvarenga , da Silva Ângela Maria , de Almeida Roque Pacheco , Bezerra-Santos Márcio , de Jesus Amélia Ribeiro TITLE=Association of IL-9, IL-10, and IL-17 Cytokines With Hepatic Fibrosis in Human Schistosoma mansoni Infection JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology VOLUME=12 YEAR=2021 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2021.779534 DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2021.779534 ISSN=1664-3224 ABSTRACT=

This is a case series study to evaluate immunological markers associated with schistosomiasis advanced fibrosis, including 69 patients from an endemic area from the State of Sergipe and from the Hepatology Service of the University Hospital in Sergipe, Brazil. Hepatic fibrosis was classified based on Niamey protocol for ultrasonography (US). Immune response to Schistosoma mansoni antigens was evaluated by stimulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from these patients with either adult worm (SWAP—10 μg/ml) or egg (SEA—10 μg/ml) antigens or purified protein derivative of turberculin (PPD—10 μg/ml) or phytohemagglutinin (PHA—1 μg/ml) for 72 h. The levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-5, IL-10, and IL-17 were measured in these supernatants by ELISA and IL-9 by Luminex. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in IL-17, IL10, and CD209 genes were genotyped using TaqMan probe by qPCR. Higher levels of IL-9, IL-10, and IL-17 were found in PBMC supernatants of patients with advanced hepatic fibrosis. Direct correlations were detected between IL-9 and IL-17 levels with US spleen sizes, portal vein diameters, and periportal thickening. The CD209 rs2287886 AG polymorphism patients produce higher IL-17 levels. Together, these data suggest a role of these cytokines in the immunopathogenesis of advanced fibrosis in human schistosomiasis.