title: The effects of interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-4 deficiency on worm development and granuloma formation in Schistosoma japonicum-infected mice.
abstract: CD4(+) T-helper (Th) cell is widely recognized to be capable of influencing worm development and egg granuloma formation after schistosome infection. Interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-4 play key roles in regulation of Th cell differentiation. In the present study, we subcutaneously inoculated mice with hybridoma cells secreting monoclonal antibodies to neutralize IL-12 and IL-4 and explored the effects of IL-12 and IL-4 deficiency on the worm development and granuloma formation in mice infected with cercariae of Schistosoma japonicum. It was found that deficiency of host IL-12 and IL-4 supported normal parasite survival and fecundity. However, worm development (length and female fecundity) was significantly enhanced in anti-IL-12-treated mice. Mean length of worms in anti-IL-12-treated group was significantly greater than that of intact controls on day 28 after infection (females, 11.84 ± 1.20 mm vs. 9.45 ± 1.34; males, 9.35 ± 1.21 mm vs. 8.10 ± 0.85 mm, p < 0.05). Liver egg load per pair of worms (1,770.12 ± 470.67 vs. 806.08 ± 232.37, p < 0.05) and uterine egg load of ovigerous females (93.08 ± 27.85 vs. 46.05 ± 34.24, p < 0.05) in anti-IL-12-treated mice were significantly higher than those in intact control 28 days postinfection. But these effects diminished 42 days postinfection (p > 0.05). Granuloma size in anti-IL-12-treated mice was significantly larger than that in intact mice 42 days postinfection (398.3 ± 80.7 μm vs. 294.4 ± 72.2 μm, p < 0.05). Granuloma fibrosis dramatically intensified in anti-IL-12-treated mice but diminished in anti-IL-4-treated mice. The results suggest that IL-12 may play an impeditive role in the development of S. japonicum and in granuloma formation as well as fibrosis. IL-4 may promote granuloma formation but have no effect on worm development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yu-Li
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Wen-Jian
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Wen-Qi
authors.initials: WQ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jia-Hui
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Yong-Long
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006099:Granuloma / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000276:immunology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000276:immunology; D008099:Liver / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008853:Microscopy; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D012549:Schistosoma japonicum / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D012554:Schistosomiasis japonica / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D014599:Uterus / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D018664:Interleukin-12; D015847:Interleukin-4