Host Th1/Th2 immune response to Taenia solium cyst antigens in relation to cyst burden of neurocysticercosis

Neurocysticercosis, Taenia solium larval infection of the brain, is an important cause of acquired seizures in endemic countries which relate to number, location and degenerating cysts in the brain. Multi-cyst infections are common in endemic countries although single cyst infection prevail in India. Single cyst infections in an endemic country suggest a role for host immunity limiting the infection. This study examined ex vivo CD4(+) T cells and in vitro Th1 and Th2 cytokine responses to T solium cyst antigens of peripheral blood mononuclear cells of healthy subjects from endemic and non-endemic regions and of single and multi-cyst infected patients for association to cyst burden of neurocysticercosis. T solium cyst antigens elicited a Th1 cytokine response in healthy subjects of T solium endemic and non-endemic regions and those with single cyst infections and a Th2 cytokine response from subjects with multi-cyst neurocysticercosis. Multi-cyst neurocysticercosis subjects also exhibited low levels of effector memory CD4(+) T cells. Th1 cytokine response of T solium exposure and low infectious loads may aid in limiting cyst number. Th2 cytokines and low effector T cells may enable multiple cysts infections to establish and persist. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.