Human Schistosomiasis mansoni: IL-10 modulates the in vitro granuloma formation

Granuloma formation and modulation around Schistosoma mansoni eggs that are trapped in host tissues play a pivotal role during schistosomiasis. It has been demonstrated that the granuloma reactions differ in patients with the different clinical forms of the disease. The pathology during murine schistosomiasis has been correlated with a Th2 response while resistance to infection with a Th1 type response. In humans, very little is known about the role of different cytokines on the development of the disease. Here we demonstrate that IL-10 is an important cytokine regulating the in vitro granulomatous reactivity of PBMC from intestinal (INT) patients. This was evidenced by the fact that blockage of this cytokine in the in vitro granuloma assay lead to a significant increase in granuloma size with cells from INT patients but not with individuals in the acute phase or with the hepatosplenic (HS) form of schistosomiasis. These results demonstrate for the first time that, in context with the model, a Th2 cytokine in human schistosomiasis plays an important role in controlling morbidity.