Functional Studies of T Regulatory Lymphocytes in Human Schistosomiasis in Western Kenya

Immunoregulation is considered a common feature of Schistosoma mansoni infections, and elevated levels of T regulatory (Treg) lymphocytes have been reported during chronic human schistosomiasis. We now report that the removal of Treg (CD4+/CD25(hi)/CD127(low) lymphocytes) from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of S. mansoni-infected individuals leads to increased levels of phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated interferon gamma (IFN gamma) production and decreased interleukin-10 (IL-10) responses. Exposure to schistosome antigens did not result in measurable IFN gamma by either PBMC or Treg-depleted populations. Interleukin-10 responses to soluble egg antigens (SEA) by PBMC were unchanged by Treg depletion, but the depletion of Treg greatly decreased IL-10 production to soluble worm antigenic preparation (SWAP). Proliferative responses to PHA increased upon Treg removal, but responses to SEA or SWAP did not, unless only initially low responders were evaluated. Addition of anti-IL-10 increased PBMC proliferative responses to either SEA or SWAP, but did not alter responses by Treg-depleted cells. Blockade by anti-transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) increased SEA but not SWAP proliferative responses by PBMC, whereas anti-TGF-beta increased both SEA-and SWAP-stimulated responses by Treg-depleted cultures. Addition of both anti-IL-10 and anti-TGF-beta to PBMC or Treg-depleted populations increased proliferation of both populations to either SEA or SWAP. These studies demonstrate that Treg appear to produce much of the antigen-stimulated IL-10, but other cell types or subsets of Treg may produce much of the TGF-beta. The elevated levels of Treg seen in chronic schistosomiasis appear functional and involve IL-10 and TGF-beta in antigen-specific immunoregulation perhaps leading to regulation of immunopathology and/or possibly decreased immunoprotective responses.