抄録
African trypanosome infections result in severe immunosuppression. Previous studies have shown that this suppression is due, at least in part, to suppressor cells (T cells and macrophages) or impairment of IL-2 production.
In the present study, the effects of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense infection on serum levels of IL-2 inhibitor and Concanavalin A (Con A) induced IL-2 production of spleen cells were investigated. The results showed the ability of infected spleen cells to produce IL-2 was markedly reduced and IL-2 production of normal spleen cells was inhibited by the infected sera. But the IL-2 dependent CTLL-2 cell proliferation was not inhibited by those sera. These results suggest that depletion of IL-2 production during T. b. gambiense infection may be due to the increase of an inhibitor of IL-2 production.
