Tregs in the immune response of BALB/c mice experimentally infected with species of theSporothrixgenus

Background:Sporotrichosis occurs through contact with contaminated soil and plant. However, the incidence of sporotrichosis as a zoonotic epidemic has increased, particularly in Rio de Janeiro.Aim:In this work, we decided to evaluate some T-cell phenotypes involved in the immune response.Materials & methods:We used flow cytometry to quantify TCD4(+)and TCD8(+)and Treg from immunocompetent and immunosuppressed mice infected withSporothrixspecies with different levels of virulence and pathogenicity.Results:It was demonstrated the predominance of TCD4(+)over the TCD8(+)cells in both groups, inoculated with all the species, and percentages of Treg observed in infected immunocompetent mice.Conclusion:This regulatory phenotype can be associated with a protective immunity in the initial periods of infection. Tweetable abstract Sporotrichosis occurs through contact with contaminated soil and plant. We evaluated Treg, associated with protective immunity during the initial periods of infection with seven pathogenic species of theSporothrixcomplex.