Levels of IL-4and markers of M2macrophages at early stage of Fasciola hepatica infection in mice

To address the dominant type of cellular immune responses and levels of M2macrophages markers at the early stage of Fasciola hepaticainfection,the wild type female BALB/c mice were infected with F.hepatica metacercariae and the species-specific PCR was applied to identify the infection of F.hepaticaat different time post infection.The indirect ELISA and real-time PCR were used to test the levels of IL-4/IFN-! and mRNA levels of IL-4,GATA3,Relm and Ym1in pleural cavity at week 1,3,5and 7post infection,respectively.The results showed at each time point,the ITS2sequence were successfully identified and the IL-4was dominant with comparison to IFN! at week 1,3and 5,but no difference at week 7.The mRNA levels of IL-4and GATA3were significantly higher than the controls with no difference between both during infection.Moreover,both were significantly increased at week 3compared to the rest time points,respectively.The mRNA levels of and Ym1were significantly higher than the controls and their levels at week 1and 3were significantly higher than those of week 7,respectively,although no differences were found between week 1,3and 5.In summary,the F.hepaticainduces Th2bias cellular immune responses at the early stage of infection.Levels of IL-4,Relm and Ym1keep the same trend at different time courses.However,high expression of Relm and Ym1at week 1post infection may be affected by complicated factors which need further investigations.