Expression of the surface antigens of lymphocytes and the levels of cytokines in mice infected with Aspergillus fumigatus.
BACKGROUND
Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) is an opportunistic fungus that causes invasive aspergillosis. Determining the immune changes during A. fumigatus infection and the factors leading to such changes clearly will make it possible to prevent the spread of the infection and to provide new strategies in the treatment of infection. Thus, the present study aims at determining the changes of lymphocyte surface antigens which develop during A. fumigatus infection and the role of cytokines in immune response.


METHODS
The expression of the surface antigens of lymphocytes was analysed by flow cytometry and the cytokine levels were determined by ELISA in a mouse model of aspergillosis.


RESULTS
It was observed that in mice infected by A. fumigatus the percentage of CD19+ B cells and the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 increased when compared to those in noninfected mice cells.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that Th2 type cytokines are important in the pathogenesis of A. fumigatus infection. Humoral immunity is considered to be effective during A. fumigatus infection because of the increase in Th2 type response.
Fidan
Isil
I
Gazi University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Turkey. isilfidan@yahoo.com
Kalkanci
Ayse
A
Bolat
Sezen
S
Yesilyurt
Emine
E
Erdal
Berna
B
Yolbakan
Sultan
S
Kustimur
Semra
S
Imir
Turgut
T
D000818:Animals; D018941:Antigens, CD19 / Q000276:immunology*; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000276:immunology*; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
D018941:Antigens, CD19; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4