Mucosal levels of IgE+ and IgA+ cells and antibodies in protein deficient rats during Trichinella spiralis infection.

VILA, CC; SARACINO, MP; FALDUTO, GH; CALCAGNO, MA; PALLARO, A; BALDI, PC; VILA, CC; SARACINO, MP; FALDUTO, GH; CALCAGNO, MA; PALLARO, A; BALDI, PC

Congreso; IUNS. 21st International Congress of Nutrition; 2017

This study was aimed to analyze, in Trichinella spiralis-infected rats, the effect of protein deficiency on antibody (Ab) levels and IgE+ and IgA+ cells counts in lung andintestine (relevant organs in protection against this pathogen).Weaning Wistar rats received a protein-deficient diet (PD, 6.5% casein)or a control diet (C, 20% casein). After ten days, both groups were orallyinfected with T. spiralis musclelarvae (ML); non-infected rats served as controls. The organs were obtained at different days post-infection (p.i.). Thenumbers of IgA+ and IgE+ cells were determined byimmunofluorescence. Total and specific Ab (against ML) were determined by ELISAin tissue extracts. Data were analyzed using the two-way ANOVA.Total IgE and IgG1 increased in C group from day 9 p.i. in both organs.In lung also IgG2a increased from day 9 p.i. In intestine IgA decreased fromday 3 p.i. Although the same kinetics were observed in PD group for allisotypes, Ab levels were lower than in C group and did not increase significantlycompared to non-infected animals. Specific IgG1 was significantly lower in PDgroup in both organs. In lung IgE+ cells increased, comparedto non-infected controls, in C group from day 3 p.i. (p<0.05) and in PD group from day 33 p.i. (p<0.01). In intestine IgE+ cells increased in C groupfrom day 3 p.i. (p<0.001) and inPD group from day 6 p.i. (p<0.01).C group presented more IgE+ cells in both organs. No significantchanges were observed for IgA+ cells in any group.Protein deficiency seems to affect the mucosal levels ofAb and IgE+ cells during Trichinellaspiralis infection. Given the important role of IgE in helminthiases, this mayexplain the severe infection previously found in PD rats