Dynamic investigation of cytokines in mice immunizedwith Echinococcus granulosus / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the dynamic changes of IL-2, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10 in mice immunized with Eg14-3-3 and then challenged by Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces.Methods ICR mice were subcutaneously immunized every two weeks for altogether three times with rEg14-3-3, followed by the challenge with Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces intraperitoneally four weeks after the third immunization.The PBS control group mice were operated in the same way.We collected mouse serum from tail vessel at different time points after immunization and challenge.The serum levels of IL-2, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10 were examined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results The levels of the six cytokines were higher after immunization and challenge infection in rEg14-3-3 group than in PBS control group.The immunized mice generated a great deal of Th1 cells, namely, IL-2, IFN-γ and TNF-α, after immunization and showed a peak at week 10 (acute infection phase), then the level decreased rapidly at week 30 (chronic infection phase), and maintained a high level for a long time.In contrast, Th2 cells like IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10 kept a low level until week 18, peaked at week 30, and then decreased gradually but maintained a relatively high level for a long time.For PBS control group, IL-2, IFN-γ and TNF-α did not increase obviously before infection, but increased rapidly after challenge infection and peaked at week 18;then the level decreased gradually and maintained a high level for a long time.On the other hand, IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10 kept a low level, but increased gradually after challenge infection.IL-4 peaked at week 18 while IL-5 and IL-10 peaked at week 30, and then they all decreased slowly but maintained a relatively high level for a long time.Conclusion Eg14-3-3 can induce significant antibody response by Th2 cells and cell-mediated immunity response by Th1 cells.Both Th1 and Th2 cells participate in the anti-echinococcusis protective immunity.