• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제51권4호
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• pp.421-426
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• 2013

Several studies have shown the mechanisms and importance of immune responses against Toxoplasma gondii infection and the notable role of cholinesterases in inflammatory reactions. However, the association between those factors has not yet been investigated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in blood and lymphocytes and the activity of butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) in serum of rats experimentally infected with T. gondii during the acute phase of infection. For that, an in vivo study was performed with evaluations of AChE and BChE activities on days 5 and 10 post-infection (PI). The activity of AChE in blood was increased on day 5 PI, while in lymphocytes its activity was enhanced on days 5 and 10 PI (P<0.05). No significant difference was observed between groups regarding to the activity of BChE in serum. A positive (P<0.01) correlation was observed between AChE activity and number of lymphocytes. The role of AChE as an inflammatory marker is well known in different pathologies; thus, our results lead to the hypothesis that AChE has an important role in modulation of early immune responses against T. gondii infection.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제40권3호
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• pp.119-129
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• 2002

Although there are many reports on the splenic (systemic) T cell response after Toxoptasma gondii infection, little information is available regarding the local T cell responses of peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) and gut intraepithelial Iymphocytes (IEL) following peroral infection with bradyzoites. Mice were infected with 40 cysts of the 76K strain of T. gondii, and then sacrificed at days 0, 1, 4, 7 and 10 postinfection (PI). The cellular composition and T cell responses of PEC and IEL were analyzed. The total number of PEC and IEL per mouse increased after infection, but the ratio of increase was higher in IEL. Lymphocytes were the major component of both PEC and IEL. The relative percentages of PEC macrophages and neutrophils/eosinophils increased signiflcantly at day 1 and 4 PI, whereas those of IEL did not change significantly. The percentage of PEC NK1.1 and ${\gamma\delta}T$ cells peaked at day 4 PI (p < 0.0001), and CD4 and $CD8{\alpha}T$ cells increased continuously after infection. The percentages of IEL $CD8{\alpha}$ and ${\gamma\delta}T$ cells decreased slightly at first, and then increased. CD4 and NK1.1 T cells of IEL did not change significantly after infection. $IFN-{\gamma}-producing$ PEC NK1.1 T cells increased significantly from day 1 PI, but the other T cell subsets produced $IFN-{\gamma}$ abundantly thereafter. The proportion of IEL $IFN-{\gamma}-producing$ $CD8{\alpha}$ and ${\gamma\delta}T$ cells increased significantly after infection, while IEL NK1.1 T cells had similar $IFN-{\gamma}$ production patterns. Taken together, CD4 T cells were the major phenotype and the important $IFN-{\gamma}$ producing T cell subsets in PEC after oral infection with T. gondii whereas $CD8{\alpha}T$ cells had these roles in IEL. These results suggest that PEC and IEL comprise different cell differentials and T cell responses, and according to infection route these factors may contribute to the different cellular immune responses.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제49권3호
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• pp.303-308
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• 2011

This study investigated whether elevated host immune capacity can inhibit T. gondii infection. For this purpose, we used silk protein extracted from Bombyx mori cocoons as a natural supplement to augment immune capacity. After silk protein administration to BALB/c mice for 6 weeks, ratios of T lymphocytes ($CD4^+$ and $CD8^+$ T-cells) and splenocyte proliferative capacities in response to Con A or T. gondii lysate antigen (TLA) were increased. Of various cytokines, which regulate immune systems, Th1 cytokines, such as IFN-${\gamma}$, IL-2, and IL-12, were obviously increased in splenocyte primary cell cultures. Furthermore, the survival of T. gondii (RH strain)-infected mice increased from 2 days to 5 or more days. In a state of immunosuppression induced by methylprednisolone acetate, silk protein-administered mice were resistant to reduction in T-lymphocyte ($CD4^+$ and $CD8^+$ T-cells) numbers and the splenocyte proliferative capacity induced by Con A or TLA with a statistical significance. Taken together, our results suggest that silk protein augments immune capacity in mice and the increased cellular immunity by silk protein administration increases host protection against acute T. gondii infection.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제52권6호
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• pp.605-612
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• 2014

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan parasite that causes a Th1 cellular immunity. Our previous study showed that T. gondii lysate antigen (TLA) treatment in S180 tumor-bearing mice resulted in tumor reduction by suppressing CD31 expression, a marker of angiogenesis. In the present study, to investigate tumor suppressive effect of TLA under the absence of T lymphocytes, athymic nude mice were compared with euthymic mice in the anti-tumorigenic effect triggered by TLA in CT26 tumors. According to the results, intratumorally injected TLA reduced tumor growth and TIMP-1 level, a metastatic marker, in both euthymic and athymic mice. TLA treatment led to a sharp increase in IL-12 expression in serum cytokine profiling of athymic mice, and increased MyD88 signals in macrophages derived from the bone marrow, implying the activation of innate immunity. The selective induction of IL-12 by TLA treatment had an anti-tumorigenic effect.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제35권2호
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• pp.79-86
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• 1997

톡소포자충의 숙주-기생충 상호관계 연구의 일환으로 마우스 비장에서 분리한 T 림프구. B 림프 구 및 과립구(대부분 호중구로 구성)에 톡소포자층의 tachyzoites를 감염시킨 후 감염된 림프구와 호중구의 미세형태 변화를 관찰하는 한편 각 세포의 충체 감염에 대한 감수성을 동위원소 흡수시 험법을 이용하여 정량화하였다. 충체는 병원성이 강한 RH 주를 샤용하였고 각 세포는 BALB/c와 CBA 마우스의 비장에서 분리하여 사용하였다. 감염 후 24시간에 관찰한 결과, T 림프구, B 림프 구 및 호중구는 마우스 주에 상관없이 세포질 내에 tachyzoites가 한 개, 두 개 또는 7-8개까지 관찰되었다. 감염된 T 림프구는 충체 주변에 형성죈 parasitophorous vacuole로 인해 핵이 한 쪽으로 밀리며. 미토콘드리아의 수가 증가하였다 감염된 B 림프구는 조내형질세망(RER)이 대조군에 비해 발달하지 않았으며 감염된 호중구는 과립의 수가 현저히 감소하였다 림프구와 호중구의 톡소포자충 감염에 대한 감수성을 3H-uracil 흡수량으로 정량화한 결과. 마우스 주에 따른 차이는 없었고 모든 종류의 세포 내에서 충체가 활발히 증식함이 확인되었다. 이상의 결과로 볼 때, BALB/c와 CBA 마우스의 비장 T 림프구, B 림프구 및 호중구는 모두 톡소포자충의 tachyzoites 감염에 대해 감수성이 높음을 알 수 있었고, 감염된 면역세포는 그 기능이 저하될 것으로 추측된다.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제38권2호
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• pp.85-90
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• 2000

To assess the relationship between the changes of cellular components and the production of Th 1 cytokine in the immune tissue, inbred C57BL/6 mice were orally infected with 40 cysts of 76K strain of Toxoplosma gondii. The sequential change of cell differentials and $IFN-{\gamma}$ production of splenocytes were analyzed by Diff-Quik stain and RT-PCR. There were no significant proportional changes of cellular components of splenocytes until day 4 postinfection (Pl) as compared to those of day 0, and the relative percentage of macrophages and neutrophils/eosinophils increased significantly (p<0.01) thereafter. The expression of $IFN-{\gamma}$ mRNA of $CD3^{-}$ cells was observed from day 1 Pl at a low level. However, $IFN-{\gamma}$ production of $CD3^{+}$ cells increased significantly from day 4 Pl (p<0.01) which progressively increased thereafter. These findings provide the relative percentages of granulocytes and macrophages were increased in conjunction with increase of total number of splenocytes after oral infection with T. gondii in the susceptible murine hosts, and lymphocytes were the major cellular components and the important source of $IFN-{\gamma}$.