Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 1999 Sep;117(3):524-8.
doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2249.1999.01019.x.

A switch towards Th2 during serological rebound in children with congenital toxoplasmosis

S Kahi  1 , G J Cozon, J M Pinon, T Greenland, M Wallon, M Al Kurdi, J Ferrandiz, F Peyron
Affiliations

A switch towards Th2 during serological rebound in children with congenital toxoplasmosis

S Kahi et al. Clin Exp Immunol. 1999 Sep.

Abstract

Serological rebounds occur frequently in patients with congenital toxoplasmosis, but remain poorly understood. A link between Th1 and Th2 cytokines and the pathophysiology of infectious diseases has been reported. Production of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and IL-4 in supernatants of whole blood after in vitro specific Toxoplasma gondii stimulation and serum-specific IgE levels were studied in 31 congenitally infected children. IFN-gamma was produced at higher levels by lymphocytes from children with stable congenital toxoplasmosis (n = 18) than from children showing serological rebound (n = 13) (P < 0.04). Conversely, supernatants from children with serological rebound showed higher levels of IL-4 than those from children with stable congenital toxoplasmosis (P < 0.03). The polarized Th2 response was confirmed by a greater (IL-4:IFN-gamma) x 100 ratio (P < 0.0001) and production of T. gondii-specific IgE in six out of 13 children showing serological rebound. These results suggest a role of Th2 cytokines in destabilization of congenital toxoplasmosis and perhaps in local reactivation of the parasite.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Production of cytokines in 18 children with stable congenital toxoplasmosis (CT) and 13 children showing serological rebound. IFN-γ (a) and IL-4 (b) were measured in supernatants of whole blood after 7 days incubation with Toxoplasma gondii antigen as described in Subjects and Methods. Levels of cytokines above controls were expressed in pg/ml. Boxes represent values between 25th and 75th percentiles and medians; bars indicate 10th and 90th percentiles. Circles outside the bars are extra values.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Ratio (IL-4:IFN-γ) × 100 in 18 children with stable congenital toxoplasmosis (CT) and 13 children showing serological rebound. Boxes represent values between 25th and 75th percentiles and medians; bars indicate 10th and 90th percentiles. Measures outside the bars are shown as circles. Statistical analysis (Mann–Whitney U-test) showed significantly higher (IL-4:IFN-γ) × 100 ratio in patients with serological rebound than in patients with stable CT (P < 0.0001).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Darcy F, Santoro F. Toxoplasmosis. In: Kierszenbaum F, editor. Parasitic infections and the immune system. San Diego: Academic Press Inc; 1994. pp. 163–201.
    1. Koppe JG, Loewer-Sieger DH, de Roever-Bonnet H. Results of 20-year follow-up of congenital toxoplasmosis. Lancet. 1986;i:254–6. - PubMed
    1. Fortier B, Coignard-Chatain C, Dao A, et al. Etude des poussées cliniques évolutives et des rebonds sérologiques d'enfants atteints de toxoplasmose congénitale et suivis durant les 2 premières années de vie. Arch Pédiatr. 1997;4:940–6. - PubMed
    1. Kahi S, Cozon GJN, Greenland T, et al. Circulating Toxoplasma gondii-specific antibody-secreting cells in patients with congenital toxoplasmosis. Clin Immunol Immunopathol. 1998;89:23–27. - PubMed
    1. Mosmann TR, Sad S. The expanding universe of T-cell subsets: Th1, Th2 and more. Immunol Today. 1996;17:138–46. - PubMed