Receptor for IgG(Fc) and human β2-microglobulin on S. mansoni schistosomula

• Published in: Nature (London) 1979-03, Vol.278 (5703), p.447-449
• Main Authors: TORPIER, G., CAPRON, A., OUAISSI, M. A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Humanities and Social Sciences; letter; multidisciplinary; Science; Science (multidisciplinary)
• ISSN: 0028-0836; 1476-4687
• DOI: 10.1038/278447a0

HOST antigen uptake by schistosomes is generally considered from circumstantial evidence to be a potent mechanism by which schistosomes can evade immune response and has therefore stimulated several investigations on the chemical nature of the molecules as well as their possible mode of incorporation 1 . These studies have indicated that the parasite can acquire host material in the form of glycolipids of erythrocyte origin 2 and gene products of the murine major histocompatibility complex 3 . As an alternative to host antigen incorporation, the possibility of immunological blockade has been suggested. Host immunoglobulins have been demonstrated to be associated with the tegumental surfaces of Schistosoma mansoni from mice and baboons, and recent experiments 4,5 have shown the presence of heterospecific antibody on the tegumental surface of S. mansoni adult worms. The ability of adsorbed antibodies to bind their respective antigens indicates that some of these immunoglobulins are orientated so as to present at least one free Fab region of the antibody molecule. Although this could merely represent a nonspecific adsorption, it could also represent the specific binding of the immunoglobulin on the parasite's surface. Using a rosette test we have now demonstrated the presence of receptors for both IgG(Fc) and human β 2 -microglobulin.