Effect Of Natural Antigens Of Echinococcus Spp. And BCG On The Expression Of Th1/Th2 Transcriptional Factor And Cytokine

Objective: To investigate the cellular immune effects of either immunization by natural antigens of Echinococcus spp. and BCG or challenge by the protoscolexes of E. multilocularis (Em) in mice model of Kunming spp.Methods: After either immunized mice with BCG (0.1 IU/ml), natural antigens (0.1mg/ml) of Echinococcus spp. By subcutaneous injection 0.2ml/per mice firstly, and boosted 0.1ml/per mice after a month for twice. After immunization above, half numbers of mice were challenged by use of E. multilocularis protoscolexes. Every immunized and challenged group had 20 mice with half and half females and males. The normal control and infectious control (no-immunization but only infectious) group had 10 mouse, respectively with half and half females and males. A quantity of the signature Th1/Th2 cytokines of IFN-γ/IL-4 and other cytokines (GM-CSF or IL-2/IL-6 and IL-10/ IL-17) in serum by using capture-ELISA, and of the transcriptional regulators of T-bet and GATA-3 in spleen-tissue by using qRT-PCR was undertaken. The data analysis were carried out by use of SPSS for a comparison of the average expression amounts of various proteins between different groups and the 95% CIs was set-up for significant difference.Results: After 20 days challenging of alveolar echinococcosis protoscolexes, the successful infectious mice (73%, 102/140) can be observed some allergic symptoms and abdominal lesion growth signs. Comparing the weight and size of lesions in various infectious group showed all in the insignificant findings. During the whole time infection-period after E.multilocularis protoscolex challenge, both key transcription factors and signature cytokines showed a homogeneious expression patterns. But it was very different in BCG immunized mice of either post-challenge or non-challenge, showing regulated the expressions of T-bet mRNA and signature cytokine of IFN-γand other Th1/Th17type of cytokines (IL-2, GM-CSF,IL-17) though insignificant impact of GATA-3 mRNA and its signature cytokine of IL-4 and or other cytokines ( IL-6/ IL-10) expressions were found.Conclusion: The long term balanced co-existence of Th1/Th2 reactions in mice model with alveolar echinococcosis (AE) infection may reflect a regulation mechanism for optimally adapted immune responses to a plethora of invading pathogens by adjusting a fine balance between protective and immunopathological inflammatory processes. BCG may be used for intervention when immune-suppression is induced in AE sufferance.