INF-gamma, IL-5 and IgE profiles in chronic schistosomiasis mansoni Egyptian patients with or without hepatitis C infection.

The immune response against clinical forms of chronic schistosomiasis mansoni patients with or without HCV infection was evaluated by assays the serum levels of IFN-gamma and IL-5 for estimate the cell mediated immunity and IgE level to estimate the humoral immunity. This study included three patient groups. G.I included 25 patients with intestinal schistosomiasis, G.II included 15 patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis and G.III included 40 patients hepatosplenic schistosomiasis co-infected with HCV. Control G.IV included 15 healthy persons with matched age and sex. The intestinal group had high IFN-gamma (92%), normal level of IL-5 and IgE. The immune response was mainly 100% Th-1 response. The hepatosplenic patients had high IFN-gamma (26.7%), IL-5 (86.7%) and IgE (73.3%). The immune response was 73.4% Th-0, 13.3% Th-1 and 13.3% Th-2. The co-infected group had high IFN-gamma (62.7%), IL-5 (100%) and IgE (92.5%). The immune response was 62.5% Th-0 and 37.5% Th-2 immunity. The shift to Th-0 and Th-2 immunity as well as associated depression of Th-1 in mixed group of patients may be playing a role in the persistence and severity of both diseases. Such immunity defects add to decrease challenge against HCV clearance.