Correlation of Interleukin-6 levels and lectins during Schistosoma haematobium infection

• We investigated IL-6 serum levels in patients infected with Schistosoma haematobium and Leishmania donovani.
• IL-6 levels were elevated in both schistosomiasis and visceral leishmaniasis.
• IL-6 serum levels were correlated with lectins.
• IL-6 appears to regulate the lectins during infections.

Urogenital schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma haematobium induces a Th2 immune response, including expression of Interleukin-6. IL-6 confers protection from experimental Schistosoma-induced pulmonary hypertension and modulates production of mannose-binding lectin (MBL) and other lectins. We studied IL-6 levels in schistosomiasis and its effect on lectins production. Elevated IL-6 levels occurred in cases, compared to controls. IL-6 correlated with the lectins MBL, ficolin-2 and Collectin Kidney-1 (CL-K1) in cases, but correlated inversely in controls. The study shows that IL-6 levels are elevated in individuals infected with urogenital schistosomiasis. IL-6 was also found to be correlated with the production of lectins in S. haematobium infection. A similar correlation between IL-6 and MBL was observed during visceral leishmaniasis.