Comparative studies on immune responses to infection in susceptible B10.BR mice infected with different strains of the murine nematode parasite Trichuris muris |
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Authors: | KOICHI KOYAMA YOICHI ITO |
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Institution: | Department of Parasitology, Kitasato University School of Medicine, 1-15-1, Kitasato, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 228, Japan |
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Abstract: | A comparison of immune responses to infection between groups of B10.BR mice infected with different strains of T. muris , S strain (isolated in Sobreda, Portugal), E strain (isolated in Edinburgh), and E-J strain (originally E strain, which has been maintained in our laboratory, Japan), was performed. In mice infected with E and E-J strains, most of the worms were expelled by day 32 after infection, though the expulsion was faster in E-J strain-infected mice. In contrast, no expulsion was observed in S strain-infected mice by day 32 and egg production occurred on day 32. IL-4 production occurred in concanavalin A (Con-A)-stimulated mesenteric lymph node cells (MLNC) from B10.BR mice infected with E and E-J strains, whereas no IL-4 production was observed in S strain-infected mice. IL-4 production did not occur in normal mice. In comparison with normal mice, high levels of IFN-γ production by Con A-stimulated MLNC were detected in mice infected with every strain of T. muris . IFN-γ production in S strain-infected mice was greater, occurred earlier and was more persistent than in mice infected with E and E-J strains. IgG1 and IgG2a antibodies to T. muris excretory/secretory antigens were observed in B10.BR mice infected with every strain of T. muris . Antibody production showed similar kinetics. These differences in the expulsion kinetics and IL-4 production in B10.BR mice infected with S, E, and E-J strains suggest the involvement of IL-4 in protection against T. muris infection, and confirm the previous conclusion by Else et al . (1994). |
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Keywords: | nematode parasites Trichuris muris expulsion IL-4 IFN-γ Th1 cells Th2 cells B cells |
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