Abstract
We evaluated the peripheral autoreactive response in patients with Echinococcus granulosus who showed a negative humoral response as compared to seropositive patients and healthy controls. For this purpose, a limiting dilution analysis (LDA) of autologous mixed lymphocyte cultures was established to both estimate frequency of autoreactive T cells and, by analysing the shape of the curves, to clarify the mechanisms that underlie the autoreactive response. Different LDA curves were observed between healthy controls and patients, suggesting that different cell interactions are involved in the two populations. More interestingly, all hydatid patients, independent of their humoral response, showed a higher number of autoreactive T cells than controls. Precisely, subjects with a negative humoral response showed a range of values for autoreactive T cells exactly between the value ranges observed in seropositive and normal subjects. The present data also show that the increase of autoreactive T cells in hydatid patients correlates with the production of specific antibodies.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
