The main pathologic consequence to Schistosoma mansoni infection is granuloma formation. It is a complex
process involving intricate cell-cell interactions in which many cytokines participate. Sera of schistosomiasis
mansoni patients in various clinical stages were assayed for Soluble Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1
(sICAM-1), Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-a) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) to determine if levels of these
cytokines were altered as a result of disease status. The mean serum levels of sICAM-1, TNF-a and IL-6 were
significantly higher in schistosomiasis patients than in healthy controls. Hepatosplenic patients had
significantly higher levels of sICAM-1 and TNF-a than intestinal patients. Serum sICAM-1, TNF-a and IL-6
levels of low-egg excreting patients and high-egg excreting patients were comparable with no significant
difference. Patients with periportal fibrosis had significantly higher serum levels of sICAM-1, TNF-a and IL-6
than patients without periportal fibrosis. Serum levels of sICAM-1 and TNF-cc appeared to correlate with
disease severity but not with intensity of infection. It is concluded that sICAM-1 and TNEa may be useful
markers, for disease severity in different stages of human Schistosoma mansoni infection and for
differentiating the presence or absence of periportal fibrosis in such patients. |
