Evaluation of Th17 cell function in mice model of allergic asthma after exposure to Leishmania infantum antigens

Abstract

Asthma and airway inflammation affect many people around the world. The prevalence of these cases is higher in communities where the prevalence of parasitic infections is lower. Parasites modulate the body's immune system using a variety of complex mechanisms. Th17 cells are one of the important pathways of the immune system in both Asthma and parasitic infection. Leishmania infantum is an intracellular parasite that causes visceral leishmaniasis. To understand this relationship in this study, Leishmania infantum parasites are cultured and antigen lysates are prepared and then injected into mice with Asthma. Methods and Materials: Leishmania infantum parasites are cultured and antigen lysates are prepared. Mice are divided into 6 groups of 5. If we consider the day of onset of asthma induction as day zero, on days -21, 0 and 21 to the negative control group, PBS, to the adjuvant control group, alum and to the positive control group of antigene, parasite antigen lysis is injected intraperitoneally. In the positive asthma control group, the prophylaxis group and the treatment group induce asthma on days 0 and 7 by intraperitoneal injection of OVA-Alum and on days 18, 19, 20 and 21 by inhalation of 4% OVA aerosel. The prophylaxis group is injected with Leishmania infantum antigen intraperitoneally on days -21, -14 and -7 and the treatment group on days 8, 15 and 22. On day 23, mice will be sacrificed by ketamine-xylosine injection. BAL fluid is collected in mice. The lungs of mice are used for pathological examination and RNA extraction and then cDNA synthesis, which ultimately leads to the study of gene expression by PCR and ELISA. Results: Antigen treatment was able to decrease IL-17 expression in a significant amount in the treatment group of mice compared to the positive asthma control group.