Human macrophages and T-lymphocyte subsets infiltrating nodules of Onchocerca volvulus

The nature of the lymphoid infiltrate in nodules of Onchocerca volvulus was assessed using monoclonal antibodies to lymphoid cell surface markers. Although B cells were generally absent, T cells were present, but in variable amounts. The ratio of T4+ (helper phenotype) to T8+ (suppressor-cytotoxic phenotype) was usually in the normal peripheral blood range of about 3, although ratios ranging from 1 to 10 were seen in selected areas of the onchocercoma. The possibility of immunosuppression through dominance of T4+, Leu-8+ cells (suppressor-inducer phenotype) within the T4+ population was also excluded. The T cells did not tend to concentrate in close proximity to the parasite, and there was no general bias in favour of the T suppressor cell phenotype (T8) within the infiltrate. Macrophages and dendritic cells were consistently observed and consisted of three defined cell types in approximately equal proportions: normal, unactivated macrophages (HLA-DR-, acid phosphatase positive), activated macrophages (HLA-DR+, acid phosphatase positive) and cells of dendritic morphology (HLA-DR+, acid phosphatase negative). These results are discussed in relation to immune suppression in filariasis.