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Human cellular immune response to Giardia lamblia
B Gottstein1, N I Stocks, G M Shearer
1Institut für Parasitologie, Universität Zürich, Switzerland.
Infection
|November 1, 1991
Summary
Human immune cells from Giardia lamblia-infected individuals show a strong response to parasite antigens. This cell-mediated immune response involves T-cell epitopes and is primarily mediated by CD4+ T cells, suggesting lymphokine roles in giardiasis.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
- Parasitology
Background:
- Giardia lamblia is a common intestinal parasite causing giardiasis.
- Understanding the human immune response to G. lamblia is crucial for developing effective treatments and vaccines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the in vitro lymphocyte proliferation and lymphokine production in response to G. lamblia antigens in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).
- To identify specific Giardia T-cell epitopes involved in the immune response.
- To determine the role of T-cell subsets (CD4+ and CD8+) in cell-mediated immunity against G. lamblia.
Main Methods:
- In vitro lymphocyte proliferation assay using PBMC from individuals infected with G. lamblia.
- T-cell blotting to identify Giardia T-cell epitopes.
- Interleukin-2 (IL-2) production analysis in specific T-cell subsets (CD4+ and CD8+).
Main Results:
- PBMC from infected individuals exhibited strong proliferative responses to both homologous and heterologous G. lamblia antigens.
- Key Giardia T-cell epitopes were localized to antigens below Mr 85,000 and 31,000.
- Immune responses were primarily associated with CD4+ PBMC, with minimal involvement of CD8+ T cells.
Conclusions:
- Cell-mediated immunity, involving CD4+ T cells and specific Giardia T-cell epitopes, plays a significant role in the human response to G. lamblia infection.
- Lymphokines likely contribute to the immune response in human giardiasis.
- These findings support further research into cell-mediated immunity and lymphokine function in giardiasis.