title: C57BL/6 mice infected with Neospora caninum during administration of progesterone show bias toward type 2 immune response.
abstract: To clarify the role of progesterone in the development of immune responses during pregnancy against Neospora caninum infection, C57BL/6 mice were given a progesterone pellet, and measured on Interferon-gamma and interleukin-4 production following the infection. IFN-gamma production in the prescribed group was significantly lower than that in the intact group on day 40 post administration. IL-4 producing cell population in the prescribed group was larger than that in the intact group. These results suggest that progesterone may alter the balance of cytokine production, and that the bias toward type 2 immune response may remain for a certain period after the infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Veterinary Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: Rika
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kano
authors.forename: Akimasa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kudo
authors.forename: Hikaru
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kamiya
authors.forename: Yoshiyasu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Ryuichiro
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: Yoshitaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Omata
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018688:Neospora; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015847:Interleukin-4; D011374:Progesterone; D007371:Interferon-gamma