Immunohistochemical localization of TNF- α and IL-4 in granulomas of immunocompetent and immunosuppressed New Zealand white rabbits infected with Encephalitozoon cuniculi.

In conclusion, we identified TNF-α positive cells in both the brain and kidneys of immunocompetent and immunosuppressed animals; IL-4 positive cells were numerous in the brains of immunosuppressed rabbits; however, in terms of percentage were numerous in the brains of immunocompetent rabbits. Immunosuppression appeared to stimulate a change in the cellular phenotype of Th1- to Th2-like granulomas in the brain and kidneys via an unknown mechanism. Expression of pro- and pre-inflammatory cytokines in microsporidian granulomas suggests a mechanism by which E. cuniculi evades the immune response, causing more severe disease. These results increase our understanding of TNF-α and IL-4-positive cells within the E. cuniculi granuloma microenvironment. PMID: 32182455 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Cytokine - Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Tags: Cytokine Source Type: research