Interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in pregnant C57BL/6 mice infected with L. major at different gestational periods.
OBJECTIVE
To assess if gestational factors affect the resistance of C57BL/6 mice to L major infection, this study determined the levels of IL-4 and IFN-gamma in popliteal lymph node cells of pregnant C57BL/6 mice infected with L. major at 16 hours, 5 days-, 10 days- and 15 days- post plug by PCR, ELISA and BIOASSAY.


METHODS
Experimental.


RESULTS
Infected pregnant C57BL/6 mice developed larger cutaneous footpad lesions compared with non-pregnant C57BL/6 mice (that showed signs of resolution 7-10 weeks after infection). But, the lesions in infected pregnant C57BL/6 mice and infected non-pregnant C57BL/6 mice were not as large as in susceptible BALB/c mice. The mean litter weight was also reduced in pregnant infected C57BL/6 mice particularly in the groups infected at later stages of pregnancy (day 10- and day 15-post plug). The levels of both IL-4 and IFN-gamma increased with gestation in pregnant infected C57BL/6 mice compared with pregnant non-infected group, while only IL-4 was raised in pregnant infected mice compared with infected non pregnant mice.


CONCLUSIONS
It may be concluded that increased IL-4 in pregnant infected C57BL/6 mice caused the transient susceptibility to L major infection while reduced litter weight was associated with increased IFN-gamma. These effects were pronounced in C57BI/6 mice infected with L major in late pregnancy.
Arinola
O G
OG
Department of Chemical Pathology and Immunology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
Louis
J
J
Tacchini-Cottier
F
F
Aseffa
A
A
Salimonu
L S
LS
D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000032:analysis*; D018320:Leishmania major / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011247:Pregnancy
D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma