Anti-IL-17 markedly inhibited the in vitro granuloma induced by Schistosoma mansoni soluble egg antigen.

Abstract

IL-17 is a proinflammatory cytokine produced by T helper cells and is involved in the recruitment of white blood cells during the formation of granuloma induced by Schistosoma eggs. The aim of the present study was to examine the formation of in vitro granuloma induced by Schistosoma mansoni soluble egg antigen (SEA) after neutralization of IL-17 using Anti-IL-17 antibody. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from 20 S. mansoni monoinfected, 50 S. mansoni/Hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfected patients and 25 healthy individuals. The isolated PBMCs were used for in vitro granuloma induction using S. mansoni SEA conjugated polyacrylamide beads. Different concentrations of Anti-IL-17 (0.5, 1, 2 or 4 ng/ml) were added to the cultured granuloma at the first day then the sizes of granuloma were assessed by granuloma index (GI) after 3, 7 or 14 days. Results revealed that, Anti-IL-17 at a concentration of 2 ng/ml optimally reduced the GI of the granuloma formed using PBMCs isolated from S. mansoni monoinfected, S. mansoni/HCV coinfected patients or healthy individuals after all the experimental time intervals. In conclusion, IL-17 blocking with the neutralizing Anti-IL-17 antibody promotes a marked reduction in the sizes of granuloma induced by S. mansoni SEA.