Idiotypic regulation in Schistosomiasis mansoni.
The role of anti-idiotype Ab2 in regulation of the immune response in schistosomiasis was studied. Positive Ab2 could be detected among the newborns of infected mothers and experimentally S. mansoni- infected mice. Negative anti-idiotypic antibodies were observed among children above 3 years and control mice. Increasing levels of anti-idiotypic antibodies were detected among S. mansoni infected children and adults. Higher mean anti-idiotype A2 levels were found among patients with hepatosplenomegaly than those with intestinal manifestations. The kinetics of anti-idiotype Ab2 among the S. mansoni- infected mice started from the end of the first week after infection up to 8 weeks. It was continuous, but with undulating levels. Moreover, the anti-idiotype antibody was able to stimulate lymphocyte proliferation at 8 weeks post infection.