Increased expression of ICAM-1 among symptomatic neurocysticercosis.

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a common parasitic infection of the central nervous system (CNS) caused by larvae of Taenia solium. Most infected individuals remain asymptomatic while few develop symptoms i.e. seizures. Integrity or disruption of blood brain barrier plays an important role in CNS infection and inflammatory response. Therefore, we studied the induction of Th1 (TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-1beta and IL-2), Th2 (IL-4), IL-10 cytokines and adhesion molecule sICAM-1 in the lymphocytes isolated from symptomatic and asymptomatic NCC cases by stimulating them with Taenia solium cyst fluid antigens. The expression of TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-1beta and sICAM-1 was significantly higher only in symptomatic NCC cases. Our study highlights the role of adhesion molecules in the development of symptoms in NCC.