Cytotoxicity-blocking antibodies in human chronic trichinellosis

Antisurface newborn larva (NBL) antibodies (Abs) were found in sera from individuals chronically infected with Trichinella spiralis. These Abs were incapable of inducing NBL death by activation of normal human leukocytes of peripheral blood as determined by in vitro assays of antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity (ADCC). Besides, such sera blocked the cytotoxic reaction mediated by Abs produced a few weeks after infection. The blocking activity could not be attributed to any particular isotype by the indirect immunofluorescence technique. Purified antisurface NBL Abs obtained from sera from chronically infected patients recognized antigens of muscle-larva excretory-secretory products (ML-ESP) in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and an immunoelectrotransfer blot assay. Likewise, as did chronic sera, a monoclonal Ab raised against ML-ESP blocked NBL death in ADCC assays. These results suggest that during the course of an infection by T. spiralis, Abs related to ML-ESP provide an immunoevasive mechanism for avoidance by NBL of an important anti-NBL host effector mechanism.