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Ascaris lumbricoides infections in humans may have important effects on the development of allergy and on susceptibility to infectious diseases that start during early life. To investigate whether sensitization to A. lumbricoides occurs in utero, we measured interferon (IFN)-gamma and interleukin (IL)-4 responses in A. lumbricoides antigen-stimulated cord blood from newborns of infected and noninfected mothers by flow cytometry. There was evidence of higher frequencies of IFN-gamma-expressing and IL-4-expressing CD4+ T cells in newborns of infected mothers than in newborns of noninfected mothers. Our data provide evidence of in utero sensitization to A. lumbricoides and raise the possibility that the immunological effects of infection start in the fetus.

Geohelminth infections are associated with modulation of immunity to parasite antigens and aeroallergens. To investigate the possibility that this modulation is affected by anthelmintic treatment, we compared cytokine responses in children who were treated with repeated doses of albendazole over 1 year versus those in children who had were not treated. Whole-blood samples were cultured with Ascaris antigen and house dust mite and cockroach allergens, and levels of interleukin (IL)-5, IL-13, interferon-gamma, and IL-10 were measured. Anthelmintic treatment was associated with enhanced production of Th2 cytokines in response to parasite antigen but did not affect responses to aeroallergens. The data indicate that long-term treatment may be associated with increased Th2 antiparasite immunity.

Background: In areas where intestinal helminth infections are endemic, infections by these parasites may protect against skin test-measured reactivity to allergens, and it has been suggested that interleukin (IL)-10 may mediate this effect. This study investigated whether IL-10 and populations of IL-10+ T cells may modulate atopy in children living in an area where intestinal helminth infections are endemic., Methods: Ecuadorian schoolchildren from rural communities were assessed for skin test-measured reactivity to Periplaneta americana allergen and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergen. Blood samples were collected from 39 skin test-positive and 41 skin test-negative children, and peripheral-blood leukocytes were cultured in the presence of Ascaris lumbricoides antigen, to measure IL-10 protein and the frequency of T cell populations expressing intracellular IL-10. We also investigated whether these immunological factors affected the association between allergen-specific IgE and skin test-measured reactivity to aeroallergens., Results: There was no evidence of association between the level of A. lumbricoides-induced IL-10 protein or IL-10+ T cells and skin test-measured reactivity to allergens. The association between allergen-specific IgE and skin test-measured reactivity was not affected by the level of IL-10 protein or the frequency of IL-10+ T cells., Conclusions: The results of this study do not support the notion that IL-10 plays a role in modulating atopy in children living in a tropical area where intestinal helminth infections are endemic.

Investigates the cytokine and antibody response to adult and larval stages of Ascaris lumbricoides in infected young adults living in an endemic area of Ecuador. Frequencies of peripheral blood mononuclear cells secreting interleukin (IL)-10, interferon-gamma, IL-4 and IL-5 in infected young adults; Levels of A. lumbricoides-specific antibodies in plasma from infected individuals.

Studies the vibriocidal antibody response to the oral cholera vaccine in children infected with Ascaris lumbricoides as well as the effect of albendazole pretreatment on the postvaccination response. Greater postvaccination rates of seroconversion in the treatment group that received albendazole; Greater rates of seroconversion and mean titer observed in the albendazole groupin subjects with non-O ABO blood groups.