Interleukin-10 and immune response in mice infected with the cyst strain of Toxoplasma gondii

Ooi SS¹, Mak JW¹, Ngah Z¹ and Lim PKC³

1. Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences. Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

2. International Medical University, Sesama Centre, Plaza Komanwel, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

3. Institute for Medical Research, Jalan Pahang. 50588 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Correspondence: Dr Mak JW; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

CITATION: Ooi SS, Mak JW, Ngah Z, Lim PKC. Interleukin-10 and immune response in mice infected with the cyst strain of Toxoplasma gondii. International Medical Research Journal. 2001;5(2):91–6. 

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ABSTRACT

Early in vitro studies have shown that specific anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies are lytic for the parasite. However, it can persist in chronic latent infections, and it is suggested that parasite survival is dependent on induction of IL-10 in order to down regulate the host protective immune response. In the present study, Balb/c mice were infected orally with the cyst strain of T. gondii and the changes in the serum levels of interleukin-IO (IL-10) and anti-Toxoplasmosis antibodies were determined at weekly intervals throughout the 35 days post-infection, using a double sandwich ELISA and the indirect ELISA technique respectively. lgM peaked during early infection, while lgG peaked at the fourth week post-infection. IL- 10 peaked at 28 days post-infection. There was a strong positive correlation between lgG anti-Toxoplasma antibodies and IL-10 (r = 0.704, P < 0.05). Tissue cysts were detected in spleens that were enlarged at two weeks post-infection. Mortality was found to be dependant on the infective dose, this being highest in mice infected with I 0,000 cysts.

KEYWORDS: Toxoplasma gondii, cyst strain, interleukin-10, immune response