Hookworm-related cutaneous larva migrans (Hr-CLM) is caused by animal hookworm larvae migrating in the human epidermis where they elicit an inflammatory response. This study describes the immunological profile in Hr-CLM patients.In 77 Hr-CLM patients from Manaus, Brazil, peripheral eosinophils were counted, and serum concentrations of total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and selected cytokines were determined by ELISA before and after treatment with ivermectin. Controls included patients' household members (endemic controls), non-endemic Brazilian and Japanese individuals.Eosinophil counts and total IgE in Hr-CLM patients were higher than in controls and correlated with disease severity. Concentrations of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-6, and IL-10 were higher in Hr-CLM patients than in endemic controls (p < 0.001) while no differences were detected for interferon (IFN)-γ, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-1β, IL-2, or transforming growth factor (TGF)-β. Following ivermectin treatment, numbers of eosinophils and concentrations of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10 decreased whereas IgE, IFN-γ, and TGF-β concentrations increased. The IL-5/IFN-γ ratio declined from 5.9 (interquartile range [IQR] 0.8-31.6) before to 0.1 (IQR 0.05-0.2; p = 0.001) after treatment.Thus, although an impact of other infections on the immune parameters determined cannot be excluded, Hr-CLM in endemic areas is associated with eosinophilia and elevated cytokine levels, particularly of IL-5 and IL-10, which decrease following ivermectin treatment.

SUMMARYEffects of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) against severe infections in cyclophosphamide (CY)-induced neutropenic mice were investigated by its single use or by its combination with cephem antibiotics. Treatment with rhG-CSF increased the number of peripheral blood leucocytes and strikingly shortened the duration of the neutropenic state. Most of the regained population in the peripheral blood leucocytes were neutrophils. Functions of neutrophils, such as phagocytic activity, superoxide release, and expression of Mac-I molecules, were remarkably enhanced by administration of rhG-CSF. When rhG-CSF was administered to CYinduced neutropenic mice before infection, protective effects against various kinds of bacteria were remarkable. On the other hand, such remarkable effects were not observed when rhG-CSF was administered after infections. However, even in the case of post-infectious treatment, a combination therapy of rhG-CSF with cephem antibiotics, particularly with Cefodizime (CDZM), showed a significant improvement in the survival rate and a decrease in the number of viable bacteria in the liver. These results suggest that a combination therapy of rhG-CSF with cephem antibiotics, especially with CDZM, is an efficient regime against severe infections in patients with neutropenia induced by a heavy anti-tumour chemotherapy.

with PSK showed a prominent anti-pseudomonas effect with 70% survival and suppression of bacterial growth in the liver, in contrast to untreated controls which all died by 2 days after infection or mice treated only with G-CSF with 20% survival. For the analysis of the anti-pseudomonas mechanism, phagocytic activity and 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin (DCFH) oxidative activity, and Mac-1 positive neutrophils were measured. Both phagocytic and DCFH oxidative activities were allebiated to normal level by G-CSF or in combination with PSK, however, deferoxamine mesylate (DFM) treatment inhibited the improvement of DCFH oxidative activity. The percentage of Mac-1 positive neutrophils was alleviated to normal level by these treatments.In conclusion, both a prophylactic and a therapeutic use of G-CSF greatly enhanced the host anti-pseudomonas activity in combination with PSK in CPA-induced neutropenic tumor-bearing mice, and it was suggested that the ferric ion would greatly contribute to this mechanism.Ann Cancer Res Ther 1 (1):