Four Kinds Of Cytokines Development In Mice With Secondary Echinococcus Granulosus Infection

Objective: We have investigated pathogenesis of immunology in mice with experimentally induced secondary Echinococcus Granulosus (Eg) after detected the variable levels of four cytokines. Methods: Following abdominal inoculation of echinococcus protoscoleces, we research the change of serum level of IL-2, IFN-r, IL-4 and GM-CSF with ELISA method. The course of the infection was followed for 220 days. Results: As compared with uninfected controls, the level of IL-2 showed U-shape after 100 days postinfection (p.i.) below the value of control group, then had a fluctuant increase, it showed a peak at 220 day p.i.. The level of IFN-r was lower than normal before 100 day p.i, the peak value occurred at 120th day p.i., whereas it sharply decreased after 140 days p.i.. The level of IL-4 was significantly increased during the first 140 days, and then there was a slow decrease after 140 day post infection. During the course of infection, higher level of GM-CSF were detected than normal, and it showed a peak at 100 day post infection. Conclusions: The data suggest the induction of Th2 AMI with a parallel expansion of Thl CMI as important mechanism of host defence against echinococcus. Two subtypes of Th cell occur activation one after another, Thl is earlier than Th2, in addition, the non-specific immunity is important in EG infection.