Characterization of Schistosoma mansoni specific human T-T hybrids

In this study, we generated antigen-specific T-T hybrids by the fusion of an established T lymphoma, CEM, with T-cell lines derived from Schistosoma mansoni antigen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of schistosomiasis patients. These PBMC were capable of in vitro proliferation and granuloma formation upon proper stimulation with antigens derived from different phases of S. mansoni development. Culture supernatants collected from T-T hybrids were responsible for the stimulation or inhibition of antigen-specific responses of other PBMC, on in vitro proliferation and granuloma reaction assays. Clones derived from a T-T hybrid were characterized as CD4+ CD8- HLA-DR- and expressed the cellular markers CD3 and CD25, especially after antigenic stimulation. Their supernatants, as that from the T-T hybrid line, were capable of modulation of in vitro cellular responses, and IL-2, IL-10, and TNF-alpha were detected upon cellular stimulation with antigen or phytohemagglutinin-A (PHA).