Pre-patent schistosome infection impairs T cell production of IFN-γ and proliferation of CD4⁺ T cells in response to polyclonal stimulation.

<p>A, Splenocytes isolated from 4 week <i>S. mansoni</i>-infected or non-infected wild type mice were cultured <i>in vitro</i> for 72 hours without antigen, with SWAP or with anti-CD3 antibody. The concentration of IFN-γ was measured from cell culture supernatant by ELISA. Data shown are mean +/− SEM. B, Splenocytes isolated from 4 week-infected or non-infected wild type mice were stained with CFSE and cultured for 72 hrs without antigen or with αCD3 antibody. Cells were recovered from culture, stained for surface markers, then CFSE dilution due to cell division was analyzed by flow cytometry and proliferation index calculated. Horizontal bars represent mean value of 5 independent mice. Data are representative of 3 independent experiments. No Ag, no antigen; SWAP, soluble worm antigen preparation; αCD3, anti-CD3 antibody.