Hymenolepis citelli, H. diminutaandH. microstoma: immunoglobulin-containing cells in the lamina propria of the mouse gut during primary and secondary infections

Abstract

The indirect immunofluorescent technique was used to determine the occurrence of IgA, IgM and IgG1 immunoglobulin-containing cells in local intestinal mucosal immune responses to Hymenolepis citelli, H. diminuta and H. microstoma infections in mice. In the intestinal lamina propria of H. citelli and H. diminuta infected mice there was no increase in the mean numbers of immunoglobulin-containing cells when compared with uninfected control mice, but there was in H. microstoma infected mice. The numbers of IgG1 – positive cells in both infected and uninfected mice were very small relative to IgA and IgM immunocytes. The distribution of immunocytes in the lamina propria of infected and uninfected mice was essentially similar and the localization of isotypes in duodenal sections showed no immunoglobulins in the villous epithelial cells. There was also no marked difference between primary and secondary infections indicating that immunoglobulin-containing cells play no major role in functional immunity against hymenolepid infections in the mouse. The presence of IgA and IgM was also demonstrated on the tegument of the tapeworms, although the distribution was patchy and more abundant on H. microstoma than on H. diminuta or H. citelli. The time of appearance of both isotypes was latest on H. citelli.

Hymenolepis diminuta: changes in intestinal morphology and the enterochromaffin cell population associated with infection in male C57 mice

“…Such studies have demonstrated discrete morphological changes in the host small intestine, and an increase in the populations of mucosal mast cells and goblet cells, pointing to an involvement of histamine and mucus in the immunologically mediated loss of the worm burden (Befus, Johnston & Bienenstock, 1979;Dawkins, Muir & Grove, 1981;Miller & Huntley, 1981;Nawa & Korenaga, 1983;Koninkx et al 1988). Similarly, humoral factors have also been implicated in the rejection response (Alghali, 1987).…”

Order of Inoculation during Heligmosomoides bakeri and Hymenolepis microstoma Coinfection Alters Parasite Life History and Host Responses

“…In addition, increased antibody production via B cells is as an essential component of a protective memory response against H. bakeri [ 24 ]. H. microstoma induces increased antibody production [ 25 , 26 ] and mastocytosis [ 27 , 28 ]; while direct evidence of T cell changes are not described, mice infected with Hymenolepis nana show increased numbers of lymphocytes [ 29 ] and H. microstoma infection may also alter profiles of effector and/or regulatory T cells. While both parasites elicit some overlapping host immune responses, each species also causes unique host immune changes, which means that predicted outcomes of coinfection based on host immune responses are not straightforward.…”