The effects of T cell deficiency on the development of worms and granuloma formation in mice infected with Schistosoma japonicum

Abstract

It is widely accepted that the immune response of the host attacks the parasite and the parasite appears to develop strategies to evade the assault. However, there is increasing evidence that the development of a parasite may be also positively influenced by the immune response of host. In this paper, we explore the effects of T cell deficiency on the development of the worms and granuloma formation in mice infected with cercariae of Schistosoma japonicum. T cell-deficient (nude) mice supported normal parasite survival and fecundity, but compared to normal mice delayed the worms' development (length and female fecundity) until 28 days after infection. However, these differences equaled out at 35 and 42 days. The nude mice apparently suppressed the size of granuloma in the livers around the eggs of S. japonicum. The granulomas were composed predominantly of neutrophils but with significantly fewer eosinophils in nude compared to normal mice. In addition, hepatocyte necrosis occurred in the vicinity of granulomas in nude but not normal mice. This is consistent with egg-granuloma formation in the host being dependent on T-lymphocyte functions and shows that the effect of T cell deficiency on the development of the worms is transitory in S. japonicum.

Mice lack of LRG-47 display the attenuated outcome of infection with Schistosoma japonicum

“…Secondly, LRG-47 −/− mice produce more IL-10 in the course of Schistosoma japonicum infection or SEA immunization, which has a central role in the pathogenesis of schistosomiasis and restrains the size of hepatic granuloma. Finally, schistosomes as the complex creature might require the host immune signal in the process of development, maturity and spawning (Cheng et al 2008). If the host immune system is Fig.…”

The effects of interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-4 deficiency on worm development and granuloma formation in Schistosoma japonicum-infected mice

“…It suggests that depletion of IL-12 may cause an increased production of IL-4 in S. japonicum-infected mice. It has been demonstrated that development of schistosome worms and formation of egg-induced granuloma in host are closely related to host immune factors (Amiri et al 1992;Owhashi et al 1997;Cheng et al 2008). One of our findings was that IL-12 deficiency in mice appeared to not influence the survival of S. japonicum but to benefit development of the worms.…”

“…Digital images of each stained worm were obtained using a microscope equipped with a Nikon Coolpix 5400 digital camera, and parasite length was measured from the digital images using "Image-Pro Plus 5.0" software (Cheng et al 2008). …”

The helminth parasite proteome at the host–parasite interface – Informing diagnosis and control

“…Several experimental studies have indicated that once established the parasites do not have a passive existence in the host. Apart from obtaining nutrients, the parasites rely on cues from the host for reproduction and development (Babayan et al, 2010;Davies et al, 2001;Cheng et al, 2008;Tang et al, 2013;Lamb et al, 2010). Growth and development of schistosomes can be positively influenced by the host immune cells.…”