Determination of the expression of lymphocyte surface markers and cytokine levels in a mouse model of Plasmodium berghei


DOĞRUMAN AL F., FİDAN I., Kustimur S., Ceber K., Imir T.

NEW MICROBIOLOGICA, vol.32, no.3, pp.285-291, 2009 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 32 Issue: 3
  • Publication Date: 2009
  • Journal Name: NEW MICROBIOLOGICA
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.285-291
  • Gazi University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the changes in lymphocyte surface markers and cytokine profiles during a malarial infection in a mouse model of malaria. Mononuclear cells obtained from the spleens of the mice infected with Plasmodium berghei (P berghei) were stained with anti-mouse 03, anti-mouse CD4, anti-mouse CD8, anti-mouse CD 19, anti-mouse CD152, anti-mouse pan natural killer (NK), anti-mouse CD80 monoclonal antibodies and expression of surface markers was evaluated by flow cytometry In the serum samples of the mice, the levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), transforming growth factor-1beta (TGF-1 beta), and interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, and IL-12 cytokines were determined by ELISA method. The expressions of all the surface markers of lymphocyte evaluated were statistically significantly lower in the infected mice than in the healthy control mice (p<0.05). However except for the level of TGF-1 beta, the levels of all the other cytokines evaluated were statistically significantly higher in the infected group than in the control group (p<0.001). No significant differences were determined between the TGF-1 beta levels of the study and control groups (p>0.05). In this study, T, B, and NK lymphocyte responses were inhibited and cytokine profiles changed in the course of malarial infection. Thus, interventions to increase the Th1 lymphocyte response may be beneficial in the prevention of malarial infection.