Inhibition of protein kinases prevents lymphocyte activation by Schistosoma mansoni antigens and reduces in vitro [correction of in vivo] granuloma reaction.

T-cell activation is regulated by signal transduction events initiated by protein kinases. The role of different protein kinases during stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from chronic intestinal schistosomiasis patients was evaluated using specific inhibitors of protein kinases. We have assayed their ability to interfere with cell proliferation, in vitro granuloma reaction and calcium mobilization. Taken together, our results suggest that Schistosoma mansoni antigen activation of PBMC involves protein kinases. The results observed could be important in the understanding of the mechanism involved in the immunomodulation of schistosomiasis.