ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the dynamic expressions of IL-17 and IL-23 in mice with Schistosoma japonicum infection. METHOD: A murine model of the infection of S. japonicum was established. The suspension of spleen cells incubated with ConA was collected at 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 weeks post-infection. Sandwich ELISA and RT-PCR were used to measure the expressions of IL-17A and IL-23p19 on protein and mRNA level. RESULTS: The dynamic changes of IL-17A and IL-23p19 showed a positive correlation. The level of IL-17A increased and reached the peak at 1 week after the infection, reduced at 4 weeks after the infection, and was even lower at 8 weeks post-infection. The level of IL-17 mRNA increased at 1 week post-infection, and then decreased gradually at 2 weeks post-infection. Being consistent with the dynamic expression of IL-17A, the IL-23p19 expression increased at 1 week post-infection, went up to the peak at 2 weeks post-infection, and gradually reduced into the normal level at 4 weeks. However, the expression of IL-23p19 mRNA fluctuated in the normal range, increased at 4 weeks post-infection, and reached the peak at 6 weeks post-infection. CONCLUSIONS: IL-17 and IL-23 are of co-expression in the mice after schistosome infection. There is a significant increase in the early stage of the infection. IL-17 and IL-23 may play important roles during the immune process in the very early stage of Schistosoma infection.
Subject(s)
Interleukin-17/metabolism , Interleukin-23/metabolism , Schistosoma japonicum/immunology , Schistosomiasis japonica/immunology , Animals , Male , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB C , RNA, Messenger/metabolism , Schistosomiasis japonica/metabolism , Spleen/immunology , Spleen/metabolismABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of ageing on the immune responses against Schistosoma japonicum infection in mice. METHODS: Female BALB/c mice were divided into young group (2 months) and old group (18 months), each composed of 8 mice. Each mouse was percutaneously infected with 40 +/- 1 S. japonicum cercariae. At 6 weeks post-infection, the mice were sacrificed, and the spleens were removed and single-cell suspensions of splenocytes were prepared. Worms were perfused from hepatic portal system and counted. The number of eggs in the liver was determined after KOH digestion. Mean single-egg granulomas sizes were determined in stained histological sections. Splenocyte proliferation responses were analyzed by MTT colorimetry. Level of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) in the splenocyte culture supernatants was determined by ELISA. RESULTS: The worm burden and egg per gram of liver in old mice [19.75 +/- 1.95, (1.59 +/- 1.05) x 10(4)] were significantly lower than that of young mice [26.00 +/- 2.42, (208 +/- 0.87) x 10(4)] (P < 0.05). The mean volume of single-egg granulomas of the livers in old mice [(30.13 +/- 10.97) x 10(3) mm3] was significantly lower than that of the young mice [(47.02 +/- 24.13) x l0(3) mm3] (P < 0.05). RESULTS: of T cell proliferation showed that the splenocytes had poorer immune reactivity to ConA in old mice (SI: 1.08 +/- 0.12) than that in young mice (SI: 131 +/- 0.14) (P < 0.05). Levels of IFN-gamma and IL-4 in the splenocyte culture supernatants [(24.05 +/- 6.24), (4.15 +/- 0.68) pg/ml] from old mice were lower than that of young mice [(34.25 +/- 869), (7125 +/- 0.83) pg/ml](P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Ageing down-modulates the immune responses and the poorer immune reactivity might decrease pathological alterations in mice infected with Schistosoma japonicum.
Subject(s)
Aging/immunology , Schistosomiasis japonica/immunology , Schistosomiasis japonica/pathology , Animals , Female , Interferon-gamma/immunology , Interleukin-4/immunology , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Parasite Load , Schistosoma japonicum/immunology , Schistosoma japonicum/pathogenicity , Spleen/immunology , T-Lymphocytes/immunologyABSTRACT
20 ml peritoneal lavage fluid of mice infected with Toxoplasma gondii RH strain was diluted to 250 ml with sterilized physiological saline, and filtered through cellulose membrane filters (pore size: 5 microm). The filtrate was centrifuged at 1512 x g for 15 min, and the sediment was pure T. gondii tachyzoites which were then sonicated. The soluble antigen was prepared by centrifugation at 11200 x g for 30 min. Sera of T. gondii infected SD rat and normal SD rats were collected for immunodetection of soluble antigen. The specificity and valence of soluble antigen were detected with indirect ELISA. The mean removal rates of mouse leukocytes and erythrocytes were 99.9% and 80.3%, respectively, and recovery rate of tachyzoites was 71%. The soluble antigen was extracted from purified T. gondii (1.38 mg per mouse). Indirect ELISA showed that the lowest effective antigen concentration was 5 microg/ml.
