Allergic lung response during an intestinal parasitic infection

GENTILINI MV, NUÑEZ G,COHEN M, NUÑEZ M, CALCAGNO M, VENTURIELLO SM

Sorrento, Itala

Congreso; 1st Congress on Controversies in Allergology and Immunology; 2010

Allergic lung response during an intestinal parasitic infection Gentilini, M.V., Nuñez, G. G., Cohen, M., Nuñez, M., Calcagno M., Venturiello, S.M. Aim: To determine the immunological parameters involved in the lung allergic inflammatory response in rats infected with the helminth Trichinella spiralis. Methods: Lung extracts of infected rats were obtained by the PERFEXT method on days 0, 1, 2, 3, 6 and 13 post-infection (dpi) to assess cytokines (Ck), chemokines (Chk) and total and specific immunoglobulin (Igs) levels by ELISA and Western Blot. The ELISPOT assay was employed to assess secretion of Igs. Goblet cells, eosinophils and mast cells were counted in lung tissue sections. The presence of migrant larvae (ML) was determined by IFA in lung sections and by microscopic observations of lung cell suspensions obtained by enzymatic treatment. Results: An increase in the levels of total and specific IgE were found as early as on 1 dpi together with the presence of secreting clones. All Ck and Chk evaluated were elevated from 1 dpi, observing an initial stage (1-3 dpi) featured by the secretion of TNFα, IFNg, CCL11, CCL28, IL-13, mast cells and goblet cells hyperplasia, a second stage (3-6 dpi) showing a mixed Th1/Th2 response with the presence of IL-10 and a final Th2-skewed response (6-13 dpi) with maximum eosinophilic infiltrates and a predominance of IL-4 and IL-5. ML were found in lungs on 6-13 dpi. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the ability of T. spiralis to trigger an early lung allergic inflammatory response far from the inductor site with a local secretion of IgE. This response is reinforced upon the passage of the parasite through the lungs.