Changes of NKT cells in livers and spleens of mice infected with Schistosoma japonicum / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To understand the changes of NKT cells in the livers and spleens of mice infected with Schistosoma japonicum.Methods Twenty-four female BALB/c mice aged 6-8 weeks were randomly divided into 4 groups.Three groups of mice were infected with(14?2)cercariae of S.japonicum.In 3,6 and 12 weeks post-infection,the mice were randomly chosen from each group and sacrificed resectively and the lymphocytes were harvested from the livers and spleens.The cells were stained with fluorescein-isothiocyanate(FITC)-conjugated anti-mouse pan-NK cells(CD49b)and phycoerythrin(PE)anti-mouse CD3e monoclonal antibodies,respectively.The proportion of NKT cells was analyzed by flow cytometry.In the experiment in vitro,the lymphocytes from spleens of normal mice were harvested and stimulated with SEA,the protein constituents of eggs and lipid constituents of eggs,respectively.The proportion of NKT cells was also analyzed by flow cytometry.Results The proprotion of splenic NKT cells in lymphocytes in 12 weeks post-infection was(4.73?0.41)%,which was significantly higher than that of the control(2.07?0.12)%(P