Antigen-specific suppressor T lymphocytes in human lymphatic filariasis.

Immune responses to parasite antigens are much lower in patients with microfilaremia than in persons with other manifestations of brugian filariasis. To determine whether hyporeactivity is associated with changes in populations of lymphocytes that regulate immune responses, we quantitated helper and suppressor T cells in the blood of patients infected with Brugia malayi. Increased numbers of suppressor T cells were present in 15 of 17 patients with microfilaremia and in six of 11 patients with elephantiasis. This increase correlated with hyporeactivity to filarial antigens but not to nonparasite antigens. Removal of suppressor T cells activated in vivo or in vitro improved reactivity to filarial antigens. These results suggest that immunosuppression induced by filarial parasites is a possible mechanism of survival of these organisms in an immunocompetent host.