Effect of Trichinella spiralis intervention on Citrobacter
rodentium-induced experimental colitis in mice
Abstract
Materials and Methods: In the present study, 36 male BALB/c mice aged
6-8 weeks were randomly divided into four groups: the control group
(PBS), the T. spiralis infection group (TS), the C. rodentium-induced
colon inflammation model group (CR) and the T. spiralis pre-infected and
C. rodentium induced colitis group (TS+CR). The mice were sacrificed 7
and 14 days after the establishment of the model. The changes in various
colitis indicators were used to investigate the effect of T. spiralis
infection on the C. rodentium-induced mouse CD model. Results: The
results showed that the weight, DAI score, and macroscopic and
microscopic colon damage in the TS+CR group was significantly decreased
compared with that observed in the CR group. Flow cytometry results
revealed that T. spiralis infection could reduce the expression of
IFN-γ, IL-17 and IL-12 and increase that of IL-4 and IL-10 in colitis
mice. Compared with that observed in the control group, the number of
CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the spleens and mesenteric
lymph nodes (MLNs) of mice in the TS group was increased
(P<0.01). Compared with that observed in the TS group mice,
the expression of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Tregs in the spleens and MLNs of the
TS+CR group mice was decreased (P<0.05). ELISA results
revealed that compared with the control group, the TS group produced a
strong IgG1 response (P<0.001) and low level of IgG2a response
(P>0.05), while increased expression of IgG2a in serum was
detected in the CR group mice (P<0.05).