Immunophenotyping of blood mononuclear cells from P. berghei (NK-65) infected and immunized BALB/c mice

Abstract

The present study demonstrates the alterations in the frequencies of helper, cytotoxic and suppressor T cells in blood of P. berghei infected and TPA immunized rodent host towards the induction of protective immune response. Statistically significant (p \ 0.005) number of CD4 ? T cells was recorded on D9 [Post Challenge (PC)] meanwhile CD4 ? Treg cells were found to be declined in immunized mice as compared to infected. This increase in frequencies of T helper cells points towards the stimulation of strong Th2 immune response in immunized mice. Statistically significant (p \ 0.005) decline was observed in the frequencies of CD8 ? T cells on D9 (PC) in immunized mice. In infected controls cytotoxic T cells were also found to be increased after 24 h post infection. Due to strong Th2 immune response, evident from lower frequencies of CD4 ? Treg cells in immunized mice, complete protection was obtained. T reg population was found to be higher in infected controls and all control mice died.