%0 Journal Article
%T Evaluation of the Local and Peripheral Immune Responses in Patients with Cystic Echinococcosis.
%A Petrone L
%A Najafi-Fard S
%A Falasca L
%A Sbarra S
%A Teggi A
%A Nicastri E
%A Grillo LR
%A Burocchi M
%A Ettorre GM
%A Ludovisi A
%A Colombo D
%A Del Nonno F
%A Goletti D
%J Pathogens
%V 13
%N 6
%D 2024 Jun 4
%M 38921775
%F 4.531
%R 10.3390/pathogens13060477
%X <B>BACKGROUND: </B>Cystic echinococcosis (CE) cysts may persist for decades because of immune modulation mechanisms. Here, we characterize the cysts and the blood immune responses in patients with CE.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>We enrolled 61 patients with CE and 19 control subjects. We received tissue samples from seven patients with CE and a control subject requiring liver cystectomy. The immunohistochemistry evaluation of the immune cell subtypes and cytokines in the pericysts and surrounding liver and the antigen B (AgB)-specific response analysis of whole blood were performed.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>In CE, the pericyst and the surrounding liver parenchyma showed aggregates of CD3+ T lymphocytes, mainly CD4+. B lymphocyte aggregates were present in the liver tissue. Monocytes/granulocytes were rarely observed. Th2 cytokine expression was scarce, whereas IFN-γ expression was present in the CE tissues. The control subject did not show an inflammatory infiltrate. The IL-4-specific response to AgB was increased in the patients with CE compared to the control, and this result was confirmed in a larger cohort (p = 0.003), whereas the IFN-γ-response was similar between the two groups (p = 0.5570).<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>In patients with CE, CD4+ lymphocytes infiltrate the pericyst and the surrounding liver tissue with a low IL-4/IL-13 expression level and a moderate IFN-γ expression level; moreover, an IL-4 parasite-specific response is detected in the periphery. These results support adventitia involvement in CE immunopathogenesis.