The cell-mediated immune response to Neospora caninum during pregnancy in the mouse is associated with a bias towards production of interleukin-4

Quinn, H.E., Miller, C.M.D., and Ellis, J.T. (2004) The cell-mediated immune response to Neospora caninum during pregnancy in the mouse is associated with a bias towards production of interleukin-4. International Journal for Parasitology, 34 (6). pp. 723-732.

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Abstract

Neospora caninum is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite which is efficiently transmitted transplacentally in cattle where it may cause abortion. A pregnant mouse model was used to characterise the immune response following N. caninum infection; the response in non-pregnant and pregnant mice was compared. Spleen cells from both infected/non-pregnant and infected/pregnant mice produced interferon-γ, interleukin-12 and tumour necrosis factor α; however, the levels of these Th1 cytokines were lower in infected/pregnant mice. Infected/non-pregnant and infected/pregnant mice also produced the Th2 cytokine interleukin-10; however, there was no trend toward a decrease of this in pregnant mice. Interleukin-4 was exclusively produced at high levels by infected/pregnant mice and thus appears responsible for the observed decline in Th1 cytokine production in pregnant mice. A bias towards Th2 cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-10 is normally associated with the maintenance of a viable pregnancy, and not with the control of protozoal infections. Consequently, the importance and role of cytokines and cell-mediated immunity in the control of transplacental transmission and foetal loss due to N. caninum infection are discussed.

Item ID: 34599
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1879-0135
Keywords: Neospora caninum; immunity; cytokkine; pregnancy
Funders: University of Technology, Sydney
Date Deposited: 26 Aug 2014 04:06
FoR Codes: 07 AGRICULTURAL AND VETERINARY SCIENCES > 0707 Veterinary Sciences > 070705 Veterinary Immunology @ 50%
07 AGRICULTURAL AND VETERINARY SCIENCES > 0707 Veterinary Sciences > 070708 Veterinary Parasitology @ 50%
SEO Codes: 97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970107 Expanding Knowledge in the Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences @ 50%
97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970106 Expanding Knowledge in the Biological Sciences @ 50%
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