IN VIVO STUDY ON THE ROLE OF INTERFERON- γ AND INTERLEUKIN-4 IN CONTROL OF CRYPTOSPORIDIUM INFECTION

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt

2 Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, B.O. Box 30, Imbaba, Giza, Egypt.

Abstract

Cryptosporidium species are protozoan parasites that cause severe diarrhea in immunocom
promised individuals and children, especially in developing countries. This study investigated 
the roles of IFN-γ and IL-4 in controlling Cryptosporidium infections in neonatal mice. Mice 
were grouped into four groups: normal control, infected control, infected/anti-IFN-γ mAb 
treated, and infected/anti-IL-4 mAb treated groups. Fecal assessments for C. parvum oocysts, 
cytokines detection, histopathological evaluations, and gene expression investigations for IL
4 and IFN-γ were conducted.  
The results showed a 22% mortality rate was among the infected anti-IFN-γ mAb-treated 
mice (11%) and anti-IL-4 mAb-treated ones (6%). Infected mice showed significantly higher 
IFN-γ levels than controls. The anti-IFN-γ & anti-IL-4 treated ones raised serum cytokines 
with blocked biological activity by compensatory responses. The increase in IFN-γ secretion 
in infected mice attempted to overcome infection correlated with oocyst counts, histopathol- 
ogical, and gene expression changes. But, a negative correlation was between oocyst shedd- 
ing and IFN-γ levels in serum as well as intestinal expression implying the IFN-γ role in infe- 
ction control. Consequently, neutralization with anti-IL-4 mAb increased oocyst shedding 
early in cryptosporidiosis, clarifying the IL 4 role in early infection control.  

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