Immunomodulatory effects of schistosome cercarial interactions with human keratinocytes and Langerhans cells

Abstract

The human parasite Schistosoma mansoni is known to modulate host immune responses in order to promote its own survival. However, studies investigating the interaction between the skin-invading cercarial stage and cells of the epidermis and immune system are limited and largely based on animal models. In this study we have used cultured human skin cells and human skin explants to gain further insight into the immunobiology of cercarial/skin interactions