Antibody-dependent, eosinophil-mediated damage to 51Cr-labeled schistosomula of Schistosoma mansoni: effect of metabolic inhibitors and other agents which alter cell function.

The effect of drugs known to inhibit different metabolic pathways or cell functions on antibody-dependent, eosinophil-mediated damage to schistosomula was determined. Eosinophil-mediated damage was completely inhibited by cytochalasin B, inhibitors of glycolysis, aminophylline, and treatment of cells with diazotized sulfanilic acid and tosyl-lysyl-chloromethyl ketone. The effects of cytochalasin and 2-deoxyglucose were reversible. On the other hand, eosinophil-mediated damage was unaffected by agents which inhibit DNA replication, protein synthesis, oxidative respiration, prostaglandin synthesis, and microtubule aggregation. The findings suggest that alteration of the cell surface membrane and microfilaments prevents damage by interfering with cell-target interactions, that energy derived from glycolysis is required for cytotoxicity, that cell-associated esterases are probably involved, and that cytotoxicity may be modulated by cyclic nucleotides. Some of the attributes of eosinophils that allow it and not other cells to mediate this reaction are discussed.