Cellular unresponsiveness in patients with soluble circulating antigens in bancroftian filariasis
Dasgupta, A.; Bala, S.; Dutta, S.N.
Indian Journal of Medical Research 85: 136-139
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5340 PMID: 3298028 Document Number: 288722
The effect of circulating soluble antigens on in vitro lymphoproliferative response to antigens derived from the locally prevalent infective stage of Wuchereria bancrofti was evaluated in subjects living in an area endemic for nocturnally periodic W. bancrofti infection. The mean stimulation ratio was depressed in individuals with soluble antigens in circulation. The differences in stimulation ratio between subjects positive and negative for circulating antigens were statistically significant (P < 0.05); whereas the differences in lymphocyte reactivity to unrelated purified protein derivative antigen between the two groups was not significant, indicating that soluble filarial antigen in circulation may be the cause of cellular unresponsiveness in patients with nocturnally periodic bancroftian filariasis.