Open AccessRANTES in onchocerciasis: changes with ivermectin treatment
Author(s) -
COOPER P. J.,
GUDERIAN R. H.,
PRAKASH D.,
REMICK D. G.,
ESPINEL I.,
NUTMAN T. B.,
TAYLOR D. W.,
GRIFFIN G. E.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
clinical & experimental immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 135
eISSN - 1365-2249
pISSN - 0009-9104
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2249.1996.d01-868.x
Subject(s) - eotaxin , onchocerciasis , eosinophil , immunology , onchocerca volvulus , ivermectin , chemokine , eosinophilia , tumor necrosis factor alpha , interleukin 5 , pathogenesis , medicine , biology , interleukin , cytokine , inflammation , asthma , veterinary medicine
Adverse reactions are seen relatively frequently after treatment of onchocerciasis patients with ivermectin. The chemokines RANTES and IL‐8, which have both chemotactic and activation properties for eosinophils and neutrophils, respectively, may have a role in the pathogenesis of post‐treatment reactions. Circulating levels of the chemokines and the cytokines tumour necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α) and IL‐6 were measured in the plasma of 22 Onchocerca volvulus ‐infected subjects. Peaks of mean circulating levels of RANTES and TNF‐α were seen at 6 h after ivermectin administration. Peripheral eosinophil counts declined at 36 h post‐treatment and an early peak in RANTES levels was associated with a delay in peripheral eosinopenia. RANTES levels were negatively correlated with severity of rash ( P < 0.001) and lymphoedema ( P < 0.05), suggesting that high circulating levels of RANTES may inhibit eosinophil sequestration. No changes in circulating levels of IL‐8 were seen. These findings suggest a possible role of circulating RANTES in modulating eosinophil sequestration in vivo .