Original Article
Korean J Parasitol. 1987 Dec;25(2):195-198. English.
Published online Mar 20, 1994.  http://dx.doi.org/10.3347/kjp.1987.25.2.195
Copyright © 1987 by The Korean Society for Parasitology
Immunodepression during experimental Naegleria meningoencephalitis in mice
Kyung Il Im,Jae Sook Ryu and Keun Tae Lee
Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine and Institute of Tropical Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul 120, Korea.
Abstract

In order to test the function of lymphocytes in Naegleria fowleri-infected mice, the in vitro blastogenic response of splenocyte cultures to non-specific mitogens was studied. Concanavalin A and lipopolysaccharide stimulation were used as tests of T cell and B cell function. For the first 14 days following N. fowleri infection, lymphoblastic transformation induced by T-cell mitogen was markedly reduced in comparison to the uninfected control mice. The blastogenic response to B-cell mitogen remained depressed in the infected mice up to 14 days after infection. The fluorescent antibody titers of sera of N. fowleri infected mice were between 1:4 and 1:32. The results suggest that there is a suppression of cell mediated immunity during the acute course of experimental Naegleria meningoencephalitis in mice.

Figures


Fig. 1
The stimulation index in concanavalin A treated splenocyte cultures from noninfected control (◦) and Naegleria fowleri-infected (•) mice in relation to duration of infection.


Fig. 2
The stimulation index in lipopolysaccharide treated splenocyte cultures from non-infected control (◦) and Naegleria fowleri-infected (•) mice in relation to duration of infection.

Tables


Table 1
Blastogenic response (stimulation index) represented by uptake of tritiated thymidine by concanavalin A-stimulated mouse splenocyte cultures from non-infected control and Naegleria fowleri-infected mice


Table 2
Blastogenic response (stimulation index) represented by uptake of tritiated thymidine by lipopolysaccharide-stimulated mouse splenocyte cultures from non-infected control and Naegleria fowleri-infected mice


Table 3
Titers of fluorescent anti-Naegleria immunoglobulin G antibody following Naegleria fowleri infection in mice

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