Angiostrongylus cantonensis: apoptosis of inflammatory cells induced by treatment with mebendazole or/and interleukin 12 in mice.
Angiostrongylus cantonensis is the major cause of human eosinophilic meningoencephalitis. ICR mice were infected orally with 35 infective larvae and sacrificed at 4-14 days, 25 days or 32 days post infection (dpi) for pathological and immunocytochemical examinations. In the non-treated group, no apoptosis signal was found in the meninges or parenchyma of the brains (4-14 dpi). Only a few apoptotic cells were noticed at 25 dpi (3%) and 32 dpi (10%). In the groups, the animals were given a single dose of mebendazole (20 mg/kg, per os at various times) or injections of interleukin 12 (IL-12) (10 ng/daily, intraperitoneally), all the animals were sacrificed at 14 dpi; the number of apoptotic cells was increased (17-21%). In the group that received a single dose of mebendazole (4 dpi) in combination with IL-12 injections (4-13 dpi), mild meningitis was observed, and most of the infiltrated inflammatory cells were in the apoptotic program (55%). Taken together, apoptosis of the inflammatory cells (most were eosinophils) could be induced when the infected mice were treated with mebendazole or/and IL-12.
Chuang
Chih-Cheng
CC
Section of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chen
Chi-Wu
CW
Fan
Chia-Kwung
CK
Su
Kua-Eyre
KE
Tsai
Yueh-Ting
YT
Chen
Chih-Li
CL
Du
Wen-Yuan
WY
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017185:Angiostrongylus cantonensis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D000969:Antinematodal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001700:Biomphalaria; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000276:immunology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008463:Mebendazole / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008581:Meningitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D008590:Meningoencephalitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017206:Strongylida Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000969:Antinematodal Agents; D018664:Interleukin-12; D008463:Mebendazole; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D053148:Caspase 3