轮状病毒致乳鼠肝脏IFN-γ/IL-10的变化研究

目的建立乳鼠感染的模型,检测轮状病毒（Rotavirus,RV）肠道内、外感染乳鼠肝脏IFN-γ和IL-10水平,比较肝脏IFN-γ和IL-10在轮状病毒肠道内外感染,以及不同时间点变化的差异性,进一步探讨IFN-γ和IL-10免疫自稳失衡与轮状病毒肠道外感染发病的关系,推测以恢复细胞因子平衡为目标的治疗策略可能是治疗轮状病毒肠炎的一种新方法。方法实验动物选用35日龄的清洁级BALB/C乳鼠,将54只乳鼠随机分为3组,每组18只,即实验组,包括肠道外组：通过腹腔注入0.10 mL（1×10-5）TCID50感染性滴度计量的SA-11株病毒;肠道内组：通过口腔灌入0.10 mL相同病毒;对照组无特殊处理。感染后,各组动物隔离饲养。观察乳鼠的活动、饮食、体型、毛色和大便变化情况等,收集大便经胶体金法检测其中RV抗原。在接种后的3、5和8 d处死乳鼠,留取肝脏,免疫组化方法检测IFN-γ和IL-10水平。结果对照组2种细胞因子表达量较少,肠道内组IFN-γ水平在接种RV后的第3天明显增多,第3天至第8天缓慢减少;IL-10水平较正常组增高但整个过程未见明显变化。肠道外组IFN-γ水平与肠道内组比较差异无统计学意义;IL-10水平在感染第3天也明显增多,第3天至第8天有所减少但仍存在且高于正常组。结论 BALB/C乳鼠肠道内外感染RV动物模型建立成功。乳鼠肠道外感染早期及后期肝脏内细胞因子呈现出不同改变。所以在肠道外组,肝脏细胞因子平衡机制失衡,进一步阐明这种失衡可能是RV肠道外播散的重要机制。     

外周血T细胞亚群在小鼠结核感染中的意义

目的探讨外周血T细胞亚群在小鼠结核感染中的意义,并与加用免疫调节剂组对比研究。方法60只小鼠随机分为3组,每组20只。结核感染组:小鼠经血管注射结核分枝杆菌(H37RV)0.05 ml,建立小鼠结核模型。生理盐水组:用0.05 ml生理盐水替代H37RV处理。母牛分枝杆菌菌苗组:按结核感染组同样剂量和方法复制小鼠结核模型,H37RV感染后第3、10、17天分别肌注22.5μg母牛分枝杆菌菌苗。感染4周后,取外周血用流式细胞仪检测T细胞亚群。结果感染组外周血T细胞亚群比率显著降低,母牛分枝杆菌菌苗组小鼠外周血T细胞亚群比率显著高于感染组。结论外周血T细胞亚群数量与结核感染的病情密切相关,调节小鼠结核模型的T细胞亚群免疫功能可使结核感染的病情发展得到一定程度的的控制。     

肝癌小鼠外周血及脾脏T淋巴细胞亚群的变化及其意义

目的:观察小鼠原位肝癌模型外周血以及脾脏T淋巴细胞亚群与正常小鼠之间的差异变化,探讨其差异变化的意义。方法:在正常KM小鼠肝脏种植H22细胞,建立小鼠原位模型。采用流式细胞术,以健康正常小鼠为对照,检测肝癌小鼠外周血以及脾脏T淋巴细胞亚群的变化。结果:与健康正常小鼠相比,肝癌小鼠外周血CD4~+T淋巴细胞、CD4~+/CD8~+比例有显著性降低,CD8~+T淋巴细胞显著性升高;脾脏CD3~+、CD4~+T淋巴细胞有显著性降低。结论:小鼠原位肝癌模型外周血以及脾脏T淋巴细胞亚群发生异常,免疫系统紊乱,可以反映小鼠肝癌的发生、发展。     

黄芪多糖对免疫抑制模型小鼠Treg细胞及Th17细胞亚群的影响

本研究旨在探讨黄芪多糖对免疫抑制模型小鼠CD4+CD25+调节性T细胞(Treg细胞)和CD4+Th17细胞亚群功能的影响。通过小鼠腹腔注射环磷酰胺建立免疫抑制动物模型,应用黄芪多糖对免疫抑制小鼠进行治疗,采用流式细胞仪分析脾脏中CD4+T细胞、CD4+CD25+Treg细胞的比例,ELISA检测血清IL-17的水平。结果表明:与模型对照组比较,黄芪多糖高、中剂量明显降低小鼠脾脏CD4+T细胞数的比例(P0.05),同时黄芪多糖上调小鼠脾脏CD4+CD25+Treg细胞数的比例(P0.05),降低免疫抑制小鼠血清IL-17的水平,尤其1.0 g/(kg·d)剂量组的IL-17水平下降较为明显(P0.01)。提示黄芪多糖具有提高免疫抑制小鼠CD4+CD25+Treg细胞数的比例、降低CD4+T细胞的数量及抑制IL-17分泌活性的作用。     

轮状病毒致乳鼠肠道外感染Th1/Th2细胞因子变化的研究

目的通过复制轮状病毒（RV）肠道外感染乳鼠的动物模型,检测接种后乳鼠体内Th1/Th2平衡改变,对RV肠道外感染后机体免疫状态进行初步研究。方法48只乳鼠随机均分为3组：肠道外组、肠道内组和正常对照组。肠道外组通过腹腔注射猴RVSA11株,肠道内组灌胃等量RV悬液,对照组无特殊处理。分别在接种后第4天、第8天处死乳鼠,收集标本,观察心、肝、肾、肺等脏器病理变化,用ELISA法检测血清中IL-10和IFN-γ的表达。结果光镜下肠道外组乳鼠肾、肝、肺和脾脏出现病理改变。感染后第4天,肠道内、外组乳鼠血清IFN-γ水平均高于正常组,到第8天明显下降,基本达到基线水平;IL-10在肠道外组第4天增高,到第8天小幅下降,但仍然高于正常组;而肠道内组IL-10无明显改变。结论RV肠道外感染早期呈现Th1-Th2混合反应,而后期则以IL-10的表达为主,T细胞向Th2型免疫应答方向偏离,Th1/Th2细胞因子失衡机制可能是RV肠道外感染的重要因素。     

苯肼对实验性脑疟模型DC亚群及功能的影响

探讨苯肼(Phenylhydrazine,PHZ)对实验性脑疟模型DC亚群及功能的影响。采用伯氏疟原虫(Plasmodium berghei ANKA,Pb ANKA)感染C57BL/6小鼠建立实验性脑疟模型,并在感染前第5天和感染第0天进行苯肼处理。动态监测小鼠网织红细胞数量、原虫血症和生存期;采用FACS检测感染后第3天和第5天小鼠脾脏中DC亚群(m DCs和p DCs)及相关功能分子(CD86、MHC II和IL-2)的变化水平。结果显示,PHZ处理能显著升高血液中网织红细胞比例,同时会升高小鼠原虫血症水平,缩短生存期;在感染后第3天和第5天,PHZ处理能促进Pb ANKA感染小鼠m DCs和p DCs的增殖分化,并能增强MHC II类分子和胞内IL-12的表达水平。PHZ引起的贫血能促进DCs的分化,同时促进功能分子的表达升高来启动适应型免疫应答,促进脑疟发生。     

黄芪多糖干预环磷酰胺所致免疫抑制小鼠的免疫功能

目的探讨黄芪多糖对免疫抑制小鼠免疫功能的调节作用,并建立一套可行的多糖类物质免疫调控指标与评价体系。方法运用黄芪多糖(astragalus polysaccharide,APS)分别处理正常及环磷酰胺(Cytoxan,CTX)致免疫抑制模型小鼠,通过测定其胸腺和脾脏指数、腹腔巨噬细胞吞噬率和吞噬指数,并对小鼠胸腺和脾脏的组织发育情况进行观察;结合流式细胞术检测了各组小鼠外周血T淋巴细胞亚群(CD3+、CD4+和CD8+)百分含量的变化。结果黄芪多糖能显著促进正常小鼠及免疫抑制小鼠的免疫器官增重,增大其脾脏和胸腺器官指数;组织学观察结果也显示黄芪多糖可以促进正常小鼠脾脏和胸腺的组织发育,并能改善CTX所致的小鼠脾脏和胸腺组织发育损伤。黄芪多糖可提高正常小鼠及免疫抑制小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞的吞噬百分率及吞噬指数,并可明显提高正常及免疫抑制小鼠外周血血清中CD3+、CD4+和CD4+/CD8+比值,降低CD8+百分含量(P0.05或P0.01)。结论黄芪多糖可提高小鼠机体的免疫机能,并建立了较为全面的多糖类物质免疫调控评价指标。     

结核分枝杆菌感染小鼠的脾脏和肺脏组织荷菌量与病理变化

目的分析结核急性感染小鼠脾脏和肺脏的组织荷菌量以及病理的动态变化。方法以3×105CFU结核分枝杆菌标准株H37Rv尾静脉途径感染雌性C57BL/6J小鼠,测定感染后1 d、1周、2周、3周、4周、6周和8周肺脏及脾脏组织的荷菌量,脾脏和肺脏组织经HE染色分析病理变化。结果感染动物的脾脏荷菌量在前3周逐步提高,在4～8周脾脏荷菌量维持稳定,肺脏组织在2～8周组织荷菌量逐步升高。病理分析显示动物感染3周后肺脏和脾脏出现肉芽肿,在6～8周病理损伤加重。结论小鼠经尾静脉感染高剂量结核分枝杆菌在8周前表现为急性感染状态,适用于抗结核药物的体内药效学评价。     

骨碎补总黄酮对免疫低下模型小鼠免疫功能的影响

本文旨在研究骨碎补总黄酮(Rhizoma Drynariae Flavonoids,RDF)对环磷酰胺(CTX)诱导的免疫低下模型小鼠免疫功能的影响。通过腹腔注射CTX建立免疫低下小鼠模型,全自动生化仪检测小鼠血中白细胞(WBC)、红细胞(RBC)、血红蛋白(HGB)、淋巴细胞百分率(LYNPH%)计数,ELISA法检测血清IL-2、TNF-α、IFN-γ水平,MTT法检测脾淋巴细胞的增殖反应,流式细胞仪检测外周血T淋巴细胞亚群CD4~+、CD8~+水平,RTPCR检测脾组织T-bet、GATA-3 mRNA的表达。并对免疫器官指数,吞噬细胞吞噬功能,脾脏乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)和酸性磷酸酶(ACP)活性,血清溶血素水平和迟发型超敏反应等进行检测。结果显示,与模型组比较,RDF可明显提高小鼠的免疫器官指数,廓清指数K和吞噬指数α,WBC、RBC、HGB、LYNPH%,IL-2、TNF-α、IFN-γ水平,脾脏LDH和ACP活性,血清溶血素,耳肿胀度,CD4~+、CD4~+/CD8~+比值和脾组织T-bet mRNA的表达(P0.05),而CD8~+T细胞数,GATA-3 mRNA的相对表达量明显降低(P0.05)。研究结果表明,RDF能够提高CTX所致的免疫低下模型小鼠的非特异性免疫、体液免疫和细胞免疫功能,对小鼠的免疫功能有正向调节作用。     

大豆异黄酮对电离辐射小鼠T淋巴细胞亚群的影响

目的:研究大豆异黄酮对辐射小鼠T淋巴细胞亚群的影响。方法:32只雄性昆明小鼠,随机分为正常对照组、辐射对照组和辐射补充0.5%大豆异黄酮组,喂养两周后,4.0Gyγ射线照射;于照射后两周杀死小鼠取外周血、胸腺和脾脏,流式细胞仪测定T淋巴细胞亚群。结果:辐射使小鼠外周血CD3、CD4和CD8百分比降低,并且CD8的变化有统计学意义;使胸腺和脾脏的CD3和CD4百分比升高、CD8百分比降低,其中CD4的升高显著(P<0.05)。补充大豆异黄酮,可使外周血、胸腺和脾脏CD3以及血CD4比例升高,但对辐射引起的CD8变化无明显作用。结论:大豆异黄酮可对辐射小鼠的T淋巴细胞亚群起到辐射防护的作用。     

H9N2亚型猪流感病毒感染BALB/c小鼠动物模型的建立

目的建立H9N2亚型猪流感病毒感染BALB/c小鼠动物模型,为研究病毒致病机制提供模型动物。方法通过滴鼻的方法将H9N2亚型猪流感病毒感染BALB/c小鼠,观察小鼠的症状和组织病理变化。结果 BALB/c小鼠的临床症状明显,病理变化典型。结论 H9N2亚型猪流感病毒感染BALB/c小鼠的疾病模型成功建立。     

Complement activation in SCID and nude mice is related to severity of tissue inflammation in the Candida mastitis model

A small animal model of localised candidiasis is needed for the evaluation of new antifungal compounds. Mammary glands of immunocompetent (BALB/cJ) and immunodeficient (SCID and athymic nude) mice were infected with a wild-type of Candida albicans. Some of the animals were treated with amphotericin B (AmB) while others were treated with saline and acted as controls. The histologic changes of infected mammary gland tissues and a number of other organs were evaluated. Complement (C) activation was analysed by immunoelectrophoretic quantification of molecules with C3c epitopes (C3, C3b, iC3b, and C3c) in serum. In all animals the organisms were confined to the mammary glands. Serum C3c levels were significantly higher (P<0.05) in infected untreated BALB/cJ and SCID mice, which also had severe mammary gland tissue inflammation, compared with control mice treated with AmB (4 mg kg(-1) i.p. once daily for 4 days). Both treated and control nude mice showed less tissue inflammation compared to BALB/cJ and SCID mice, and revealed insignificant activation of the complement system. It is concluded that innate immune response is important in the control of candidiasis and that the murine mastitis model is useful for immunopathological studies as well as evaluation of potential antifungal compounds.     

B-1 cells upregulate CD8 T lymphocytes and increase proinflammatory cytokines serum levels in oral encephalitozoonosis

Microsporidia are intracellular pathogens that cause severe disease in immunocompromised humans and animals. We recently demonstrated that XID mice are more susceptible to Encephalitozoon cuniculi infection by intraperitoneal route, evidencing the role of B-1 cells in resistance against infection. The present study investigated the resistance and susceptibility against E. cuniculi oral infection, including the role of B-1 cells. BALB/c and BALB/c XID (B-1 cells deficient) mice were orally infected with E. cuniculi spores. No clinical symptoms were observed in infected animals; histopathology showed lymphoplasmocytic enteritis with degeneration of the apexes of the villi in all infected groups. Higher parasite burden was observed in infected BALB/c XID mice. In the spleen and peritoneum, all infected mice showed a decrease of lymphocytes, including CD8⁺ T cells, mostly in infected BALB/c XID mice. Adoptive transfer of B-1 cells (XID + B-1) was associated with a lower parasite burden. Pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-6) increased mostly in infected XID + B1 mice. Together, the present results showed that BALB/c XID mice infected by the oral route were more susceptible to encephalitozoonosis than BALB/c mice, demonstrating the B-1 cells importance in the control of the immune response against oral E. cuniculi infection.     

Control of acute infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus in mice that cannot present an immunodominant viral cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitope.

For controlling infection of the mouse with the lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM) virus, CD8+ CTL are essential. In the infected BALB/c mouse the arising LCM virus-specific CTL are exclusively restricted by the class I MHC-encoded molecule L; K- or D-restricted antiviral CTL cannot be detected. Thus, the infected L-deficient BALB/c mutant C-H-2dm2 should not be capable of eliminating the virus. The experimental evidence proves the contrary, which is explained by K- and D-restricted CTL that this mouse generates. Why such cells remain undetectable in BALB/c mice is currently unexplained, because there is no lack of precursors and the corresponding virus Ag is presented. Despite the absence of lytic activity in vitro, other than the one associated with L, transfusion of day 8-immune spleen cells from BALB/c into infected C-H-2dm2 (L-deficient) mice results in accelerated virus elimination from the organs of the latter, which was manifest as soon as 8 h after cell transfer. Furthermore, lytic activity did not attain measurable levels in the recipients' spleens. Obviously, this infection can be terminated by CD8+ T lymphocytes even when these cells' lytic activity is below detectability.     

Administration of monoclonal anti-IFN-gamma antibodies in vivo abrogates natural resistance of C3H/HeN mice to infection with Leishmania major

C3H/HeN mice that are naturally resistant to cutaneous disease and systemic infections with the protozoan parasite, Leishmania major, were treated at the time of infection, and weekly thereafter, with mouse anti-rat IFN-gamma mAb or an irrelevant antibody of similar isotype. Anti-IFN-gamma-treated mice developed cutaneous lesions; parasites spread to the regional lymph nodes and then metastasized to spleens and livers. The course of disease in these animals was similar to that of genetically susceptible BALB/c mice. Two exceptions in the pathology of L. major infections were noted between BALB/c and anti-IFN-gamma-treated C3H/HeN mice: 1) BALB/c mice died of systemic complications, whereas C3H/HeN mice did not, and 2) multinucleated giant cells were observed in lymph nodes and spleens of infected BALB/c mice, whereas these cells were not observed in infected C3H/HeN mice. Control mice, those treated with either saline or irrelevant antibody of the same isotype as the anti-IFN-gamma monoclonal, showed no evidence of cutaneous disease (development of footpad lesions) or systemic infection (by histopathology). Total abrogation of the natural resistance of C3H/HeN mice could be achieved by treatment with as little as 0.5 mg/mouse/wk of anti-IFN-gamma antibody, or by a single dose of 1 mg/mouse anti-IFN-gamma antibody administered at the time of parasite inoculation. If antibody treatment was delayed for as little as 1 wk after parasite inoculation, the infections in treated animals resembled that of untreated or control antibody-treated mice: no cutaneous lesions (by footpad swelling or viable counts of leishmania in footpad tissue) or systemic disease (by microscopic analysis of touch preparations of internal organs, and histopathology of same). The production of IFN-gamma during the initial interaction of the parasite and host cells appears to be a major component of genetic control of natural resistance to infection with L. major in C3H/HeN mice.     

Macrophage-mediated suppression of immune responses in Toxoplasma-infected mice. III. Suppression of antibody responses to parasite itself

In acute Toxoplasma infection, anti-sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) antibody responses were strongly suppressed in the infected C57BL/6 mice, and the mice produced low titers of only 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME)-sensitive antibodies but not 2-ME-resistant antibodies. By contrast, the infected BALB/c mice produced much higher titers of both 2-ME-sensitive and -resistant anti-SRBC antibodies than the infected C57BL/6 mice. In anti-Toxoplasma antibody responses, the 2-ME-resistant antibody titers were significantly lower in the infected C57BL/6 mice than in the BALB/c mice in the early phase of infection, suggesting that the suppressive effect of Toxoplasma infection affects antibody responses to Toxoplasma itself as well as to the unrelated antigen, SRBC. A histological study revealed that in the infected C57BL/6 mice, a large number of acid phosphatase-positive, macrophage-like cells infiltrated into the follicles of their spleens, and an involution of follicles occurred in the acute phase of infection. This histological change was not observed in the infected BALB/c mice. The infected C57BL/6 mice, which had the suppressed anti-Toxoplasma antibody responses, made five times as many as cysts in their brains as compared with the BALB/c mice at the fifth week of infection.     

Adoptive transfer of dendritic cells modulates immunogenesis and tolerogenesis in a neonatal model of murine cutaneous leishmaniasis

We evaluated the adoptive transfer of DCs on Leishmania (L.) mexicana-infected neonatal BALB/c mice. DCs were isolated and purified from the spleens of the following donor groups: a) Adult BALB/c mice infected during adulthood with L. (L) mexicana; b) Adult BALB/c mice infected during neonatal life; c) Healthy neonatal BALB/c mice; d) Healthy adult BALB/c mice. A neonatal model of infection, generated after inoculation with 5 × 10⁵ promastigotes of L. (L) mexicana, was used as the infection control group. Sixteen hours after intraperitoneal transfer of DCs (1 × 10³, 1 × 10⁵, or 1 × 10⁶ cells/ml), neonatal recipient BALB/c mice were infected. The adoptive transfer of DCs diminished disease progression in neonatal mice. This reduction depends on the quantity and provenance of transferred DCs, since the effect was more evident with high numbers of DCs from adult mice infected during adulthood and healthy neonatal mice. Protection was significantly reduced in animals receiving DCs from healthy adult mice but it was absent in mice receiving DCs from adult mice infected during neonatal life. These results suggest that genetic susceptibility to Leishmania infection can be modified during neonatal life, and that the period of life when antigens are encountered is crucial in influencing the capacity of DCs to induce resistance or tolerance.     

Host genetic background affects regulatory T-cell activity that influences the magnitude of cellular immune response against Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Using two mouse strains with different abilities to generate interferon (IFN)-γ production after Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, we tested the hypothesis that the frequency and activity of regulatory T (Treg) cells are influenced by genetic background. Our results demonstrated that the suppressive activity of spleen Treg cells from infected or uninfected BALB/c mice was enhanced, inhibiting IFN-γ and interleukin (IL)-2 production. Infected C57BL/6 mice exhibited a decrease in the frequency of lung Treg cells and an increased ratio CD4(+):CD4(+)Foxp3(+) cells compared with infected BALB/c mice and uninfected C57BL/6 mice. Moreover, infected C57BL/6 mice also had a decrease in the immunosuppressive capacity of spleen Treg cells, higher lung IFN-γ and IL-17 production, and restricted the infection better than BALB/c mice. Adoptive transfer of BALB/c Treg cells into BALB/c mice induced an increase in bacterial colony-forming unit (CFU) counts. Furthermore, BALB/c mice treated with anti-CD25 antibody exhibited lung CFU counts significantly lower than mice treated with irrelevant antibody. Our results show that in BALB/c mice, the Treg cells have a stronger influence than that in C57BL/6 mice. These data suggest that BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice may use some different mechanisms to control M. tuberculosis infection. Therefore, the role of Treg cells should be explored during the development of immune modulators, both from the perspective of the pathogen and the host.     

Organ infectivity of Toxoplasma gondii in interferon-gamma knockout mice

To determine the influence of interferon (IFN)-gamma on the organ infectivity and on the genetic susceptibility of susceptible (C57BL/6) and resistant (BALB/c) strains after peroral infection with cysts of Toxoplasma gondii. IFN-gamma knockout (KO) mice in C57BL/6 and BALB/c backgrounds were utilized. The kinetics of the changes in T. gondii abundance were evaluated with a quantitative competitive polymerase chain reaction assay in various organs at different times after peroral infection. In IFN-gamma KO mice, a T. gondii-specific gene, SAG1, was detected in all organs examined, and the protozoan proliferated much more actively than in wild-type mice. The abundance of T. gondii was much higher in mesenteric lymph nodes and the heart than in other organs. In contrast, in the nervous system organs and kidneys, only a weakly detectable reaction was observed. Toxoplasma gondii grew at a more rapid rate in the organs of IFN-gamma KO C57BL/6 mice than in the organs of IFN-gamma KO BALB/c mice during the course of infection. Destruction of the IFN-gamma gene showed remarkable effects on the infectivity in both susceptible and resistant mice.     

Leishmania amazonensis: humoral response to amastigote excreted-antigens in murine leishmaniasis

With the purpose of studying the antigenic role that factors excreted by Leishmania amastigotes might have during murine infection, immunoblots were carried out with sera from C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice infected with two strains of Leishmania (L.) amazonensis, NR and IFLA/BR. Both strains differ widely in virulence in BALB/c mice. BALB/c but not C57BL/6 sera recognized several excretion products. The excreted antigens showed a strong response towards IgG1 and IgG2a isotypes whilst they reacted only weakly against IgG2b and IgG3. A low-molecular weight antigen (about 20 kDa) excreted by both Leishmania strains was strongly recognized by IgG1 from BALB/c mice sera infected with IFLA/BR, the most virulent strain. Sera from NR infected mice were incapable of recognizing this antigen in spite of its presence in NR excreted products. The results indicate that the humoral immune response to excreted antigens of amastigotes depends on both the host genetic background and the parasite strain.