Influence of maternal filariasis on childhood infection and immunity to Wuchereria bancrofti in Kenya

Infect Immun. 2003 Sep;71(9):5231-7. doi: 10.1128/IAI.71.9.5231-5237.2003.

Abstract

To determine whether maternal filariasis influences the risk of infection by and immunity to Wuchereria bancrofti in children, we performed a cross-sectional study in an area of Kenya where filariasis is endemic. Residents of 211 households were enrolled; 376 parents and 938 of their offspring between the ages of 2 and 17 years were examined for filarial infection status as determined by blood-borne microfilariae and filarial antigenemia. Children of infected mothers had a three- to fourfold increased risk of filarial infection, as ascertained by circulating filarial antigen, relative to children of uninfected mothers (P < 0.001). Paternal infection did not correlate with childhood infection status, indicating a specific maternal effect. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from children of filaria-infected mothers (n = 33) had higher levels of constitutive interleukin-5 (IL-5) and IL-10, increased microfilarial antigen-specific IL-5 production, and diminished microfilarial antigen-driven lymphocyte proliferation than cells from children of uninfected mothers (n = 46; P < 0.05). In contrast, there were no differences between the two groups in adult worm antigen-driven gamma interferon, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10 production and lymphocyte proliferation. These data indicate that maternal filarial infection increases childhood susceptibility to W. bancrofti and skews filaria-specific immunity toward a Th2-type cytokine response. The results support the notion that in utero exposure to filarial antigens affects the natural history of filariasis during childhood.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Helminth / blood
  • Antigens, Helminth
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cytokines / biosynthesis
  • Elephantiasis, Filarial / epidemiology
  • Elephantiasis, Filarial / etiology*
  • Elephantiasis, Filarial / immunology*
  • Elephantiasis, Filarial / transmission
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immune Tolerance
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Kenya / epidemiology
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Male
  • Maternal-Fetal Exchange / immunology
  • Middle Aged
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
  • Risk Factors
  • Wuchereria bancrofti / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Helminth
  • Antigens, Helminth
  • Cytokines