Recombinant antigens of Echinococcus granulosus recognized by IgE and IgG4 of sera from patients with cystic echinococcosis

摘要

A characteristic feature of the immune response in helminth infections is an increased level of specific IgE. This high IgE level is not always associated with an allergic response, probably because the high IgG4 level produced during helminth infections blocks the antigenic epitopes responsible for the allergic response (Vercelli D, 2000, Am J Resp Crit Care Med 162: S86-S90). Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by Echinococcus granulosus, shares with other helminthiases three typical aspects of immediate hypersensitivity reactions: elevated IgE/IgG4 production, eosinophilia and mastocytosis (Pawlowski ZS, 1997, in FL Andersen, H Ouhelli, M Kachani, Eds, Compendium on Cystic Echinococcosis. Brigham Young University Print Services, Provo, Utah, USA:199-35).