Evaluation of the effect of Toxoplasma gondii lysate antigens on the expresion of IL-4 and IFN-γ cytokines in the experimental model of multiple sclerosis (EAE) in C57BL/6 mice

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive, inflammatory autoimmune disease caused by the destruction of nerve cell myelin in the central nervous system (CNS). The number of people suffering from this disease is about 2.5 million people worldwide. There is currently no definitive cure for the disease, and current treatments only delay the progression of the disease and its symptoms. Since parasitic infections have strong effects on the host's immune system and studies have shown that patients with multiple sclerosis who are infected with parasitic worms have a shorter course of illness than uninfected patients. In the present study, we investigated the effect of Toxoplasma gondii lysate on the expression of cytokines interleukin 4 and interferon gamma in an experimental model of multiple sclerosis. Methods and materials: First, we propagated the RH strain of Toxoplasma gondii parasite in mice, then Toxoplasma lysate antigens were obtained from live and active tachyzoites. The EAE model was induced in the animal and the grouping of interventions was done: 1) In the first group (control group): the mice were completely healthy and without disease induction or intervention. They only received 1 cc of RPMI 1640 intraperitoneally. 2) EAE disease was induced in the mice of the second group, but they did not receive any intervention. 3) The mice of the third group, which were the prophylaxis group with lysed Toxoplasma gondii antigens. After 21 days of the onset of the disease, spleen cells were isolated in the desired groups and the expression of cytokines IL-4 and IFN-γ was measured by real-time PCR technique. Results: Antigen treatment was able to increase IL4 expression, and this increase was completely significant in the EAE+Toxo group compared to the EAE+PBS group (P = 0.0213). Rresults assessment of IFN-γ gene expression showed that the expression of this gene in the EAE+PBS group had a significant level (P = 0.0028) compared to the EAE+Toxo group.