Basophil depletion downregulates Schistosoma mansoni egg-induced granuloma formation

William K. Anyan, Takenori Seki, Takashi Kumagai, Kazushige Obata-Ninomiya, Rieko Furushima-Shimogawara, Bethel Kwansa-Bentum, Nobuaki Akao, Kwabena M. Bosompem, Daniel A. Boakye, Michael D. Wilson, Hajime Karasuyama, Nobuo Ohta

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Granuloma formation around parasite eggs during schistosomal infection is considered to be controlled by Th2 cytokines. However, it is still controversial which cell populations are responsible for the host Th2 cytokine-dependent granuloma formation. Basophils have recently attracted attention because of their ability to produce large amounts of IL-4. Therefore, we investigated whether basophils play an essential role in the induction of granuloma formation induced by Schistosoma mansoni eggs. Together with our previous observation that basophil numbers increased markedly in the spleen at 7. weeks postinfection, immunohistochemical staining using anti-mMCP8 monoclonal antibody (mAb) showed basophil infiltration in the granulomatous lesions formed around parasite eggs. To examine the roles of basophils more directly, we treated mice with anti-CD200R3 mAb to deplete basophils. Depletion of basophils resulted in a reduction of basophil number with concomitant downregulation of egg granuloma formation at 7. weeks postinfection. Moreover, we observed a significant reduction in the size of egg granulomas formed in basophil-depleted mice in the pulmonary granuloma model. Taken together, these findings indicated that basophils are essential for S. mansoni egg-induced granuloma formation, and this may serve as a novel therapeutic target in ameliorating the pathology of schistosomiasis.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)508-513
Number of pages6
JournalParasitology International
Volume62
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2013

Keywords

  • Ba103
  • Basophils
  • Egg granuloma
  • Parasite eggs
  • Schistosoma mansoni

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