Dermacentor andersoni: effects of repeated infestations on lymphocyte proliferation, cytokine production, and adhesion-molecule expression by BALB/c mice

Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 2001 Jun;95(4):413-27. doi: 10.1080/00034980120059081.

Abstract

The effects of repeated infestations with Dermacentor andersoni nymphs on the lymphocyte functions of BALB/c mice were investigated. The in-vitro proliferation responses to concanavalin-A or salivary-gland molecules, the production of cytokines, and the expression of two adhesion molecules-leucocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) and very late activation-4 (VLA-4)-were all studied. In addition, the ability of salivary-gland extract or saliva from D. andersoni to modulate expression of lymphocyte adhesion molecules in vitro was determined. The proliferative responses of T-lymphocytes to concanavalin-A were significantly suppressed after first and second infestations, and significant increases in lymphocyte proliferation in the presence of tick salivary-gland antigen were observed in infested mice. After two infestations, production of interleukin-2 was significantly decreased but that of interferon-gamma remained unchanged. Production of interleukin-4 and interleukin-10 was significantly enhanced in infested mice after both the first and second infestations. Expression of LFA-1 and VLA-4 by lymphocytes from infested mice was suppressed. Furthermore, both a salivary-gland extract and the saliva of D. andersoni reduced the in-vitro expression of both of these adhesion molecules by lymphocytes from tick-naive mice.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / metabolism*
  • Cell Division
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Concanavalin A / pharmacology
  • Cytokines / metabolism*
  • Dermacentor / physiology*
  • Female
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Interleukin-10 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-2 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-4 / metabolism
  • Linear Models
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Recurrence
  • Salivary Proteins and Peptides / physiology
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes / parasitology*
  • Tick Infestations / physiopathology*

Substances

  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Cytokines
  • Interleukin-2
  • Salivary Proteins and Peptides
  • Concanavalin A
  • Interleukin-10
  • Interleukin-4
  • Interferon-gamma