Gestation and breastfeeding in schistosomotic mothers differently modulate the immune response of adult offspring to postnatal Schistosoma mansoni infection

Schistosoma mansoni antigens in the early life alter homologous andheterologous immunity during postnatal infections. We evaluate the immunity toparasite antigens and ovalbumin (OA) in adult mice born/suckled by schistosomoticmothers. Newborns were divided into: born (BIM), suckled (SIM) or born/suckled (BSIM)in schistosomotic mothers, and animals from noninfected mothers (control). Whenadults, the mice were infected and compared the hepatic granuloma size andcellularity. Some animals were OA + adjuvant immunised. We evaluated hypersensitivityreactions (HR), antibodies levels (IgG1/IgG2a) anti-soluble egg antigen andanti-soluble worm antigen preparation, and anti-OA, cytokine production, andCD4⁺FoxP3⁺T-cells by splenocytes. Compared to control group,BIM mice showed a greater quantity of granulomas and collagen deposition, whereas SIMand BSIM presented smaller granulomas. BSIM group exhibited the lowest levels ofanti-parasite antibodies. For anti-OA immunity, immediate HR was suppressed in allgroups, with greater intensity in SIM mice accompanied of the remarkable level ofbasal CD4⁺FoxP3⁺T-cells. BIM and SIM groups produced lessinterleukin (IL)-4 and interferon (IFN)-g. In BSIM, there was higherproduction of IL-10 and IFN-g, but lower levels of IL-4 andCD4⁺FoxP3⁺T-cells. Thus, pregnancy in schistosomotic mothersintensified hepatic fibrosis, whereas breastfeeding diminished granulomas indescendants. Separately, pregnancy and breastfeeding could suppress heterologousimmunity; however, when combined, the responses could be partially restored ininfected descendants.