The immune response of regional lymph nodes during the early stages of Fasciola hepatica infection in cattle

Abstract

In this study we examined regional immune responses to Fasciola hepatica infection in the natural ruminant host. Naïve cattle and those pre-exposed to a drug-abbreviated infection were subsequently challenged and lymph nodes extracted at slaughter. In vitro proliferation and cytokine production by mononuclear cells isolated from hepatic and mesenteric lymph nodes were measured after culture with whole fluke antigen (WFA). Hepatic lymph node cells had a significantly greater response to parasite antigen than mesenteric lymph node cells (P < 0.02), although there was no difference in the magnitude of the proliferative response between naïve and pre-exposed challenged cattle. Mononuclear cells from hepatic lymph nodes produced interferon gamma, interleukin 2 and interleukin 4 after culture with parasite antigen, indicative of a mixed, T helper type 0, response. Comparison of the hepatic node response to a variety of F. hepatica antigens showed that proliferation was lower after culture with cathepsin-L, than with a high molecular weight fraction, WFA or excretory-secretory antigen. Cell culture supernatant fluid from unstimulated hepatic lymph node cells showed an IgG1 response to antigens of 48, 52-70, 82, 96 and 120-190 kDa on Western blot in pre-exposed, but not naïve, challenged animals.

In Vitro and In Vivo Studies for Assessing the Immune Response and Protection-Inducing Ability Conferred by Fasciola hepatica-Derived Synthetic Peptides Containing B- and T-Cell Epitopes

“…According to the literature, the mechanism behind chronic F. hepatica infection development involves IgG1 antibody generation and little or no IgG2a [44], [45]. However, an antibody response against F. hepatica cathepsin L as vaccine candidate involves generating both IgG1 and IgG2a antibodies, suggesting a mixed Th1/Th2 protective immune response [34], [44].…”

Interleukin-2 and interleukin-10 gene expression in calves experimentally infected with Fasciola gigantica

“…The F. gigantica infection in cattle and buffaloes also indicated suppression of Th1 response, with the suppression of IFN-γ production and upregulation of IL-6, IL-8 cytokines in these animals (Molina, 2005). However, some contrasting observations have been reported which indicates that a Th0 immune response occurs during the early phase of infection, with concurrent expression of IFN-γ, IL-2 and IL-4 (Mulcahy and Dalton, 2001;Hoyle and Taylor, 2003). In the present study, we attempted to determine the gene expression of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) as the indicators of Th1 or Th2 type of immune response evoked in calves to a primary infection with F. gigantica.…”

Protective Role of Purified Cysteine Proteinases against Fasciola gigantica Infection in Experimental Animals

“…A few published studies on cytokine profiles during fascioliasis are on F. hepatica infection in cattle and sheep, which have demonstrated a dominant Th2-type immune response during chronic infections [13,41]. However, some contrasting observations have been reported indicating a Th0 response during early phases of infection wherein IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-4 were produced [42,43]. Non-polarized Th0 response has also been reported in cattle during a chronic phase of F. hepatica infection [12].…”