Ultrastructural evidence for complement and antibody-dependent damage to schistosomula of <i>Schistosoma mansoni</i> by rat eosinophils <i>in vitro</i>

Abstract

Summary Rat peritoneal eosinophils adhere to live Schistosoma mansoni schistosomula in vitro in the presence of fresh normal rat serum, or in heat-inactivated serum from rats immune to the parasite. When the eosinophils are present in sufficient numbers the worms show ultrastructural evidence of surface damage and are ultimately killed. It is believed that the appearance of focal lesions in the tegument of the schistosomulum follows the secretion of enzymes by the eosinophils onto the parasite surface. The cells have been observed within these lesions and later between the basal plasma membrane of the tegument and the underlying interstitial material. It is suggested that the cells are responsible for prising the tegument away from the body of the worm. The detached tegument shows evidence of further degradation. Adherent eosinophils which have released their secretions appear to degenerate and are eventually replaced by macrophages. Remnants of both the expended eosinophils and the disrupted tegument have been identified within the macrophages. Adherence of eosinophils through C 3 –C 3 receptor interaction results in earlier and more severe damage to the schistosomula than when adherence occurs through Fe receptors. Rat eosinophils also adhere to C 3 -coated, glutaraldehyde-flxed schistosomula and C 3 -coated Sepharose beads. However, evidence of enzyme secretion is only obtained when the target is a schistosomulum.