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[Cyclosporine A effect in mice C57BL/6 infected with Encephalitozoon intestinalis]
Ana Luz Galván1, Sonia del Pilar Agudelo, Juan Gonzalo Restrepo
1Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia. agalvandiaz@yahoo.com
Introduction:
Encephalitozoon intestinalis, a parasite belonging to the phylum Microsporidia, is causes gastrointestinal infections in the immunocompromised host. A suitable pharmacologically immunosuppressed animal model for the study of natural E. intestinalis infection, which can establish the immune components that respond to this parasite, is lacking.
Objective:
To evaluate the effect of immunosuuppression with Cyclosporine A (CsA) in C57BL/ 6 mice on experimental infection with E. intestinalis infection.
Materials And Methods:
Eighty C57BL/6 mice were distributed in four treatment groups: Control, CsA-immunosuppressed mice without infection, immunocompetent and immunossuppressed mice infected with E. intestinalis. Mice were immunosuppressed with a weekly dose of 50 mg/Kg body weight of CsA, during the course of the study. Five mice from each group were sacrificed 2, 3, 4 and 6 weeks post-infection, to obtain blood for antibody testing and stool samples were analyzed to assess excretion of spores.
Results:
Production of specific IgG antibodies was significantly higher in the immunocompetent group as compared to the immunosuppressed group of experimentally infected mice. In the infected mice, parasites were not observed in any tissues different from the small intestine. However, spore excretion through the stool and duodenal liquid was higher in the group of immunosuppresed infected mice.
Conclusion:
Immunosuppression induced with CsA in the murine model did not allow parasite dissemination and illness progression, but raised kinetics of spore excretion and decreased the production of IgG antibodies.
Insights
Cyclosporine A (CsA) immunosuppression in mice infected with Encephalitozoon intestinalis increased spore shedding but reduced IgG antibody production. This model shows limited parasite dissemination, aiding E. intestinalis infection research.
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Immunology
- Microbiology
Context:
- Encephalitozoon intestinalis is a microsporidian parasite causing gastrointestinal issues in immunocompromised individuals.
- A suitable animal model for studying E. intestinalis immune responses is currently lacking.
Purpose:
- To assess the impact of Cyclosporine A (CsA)-induced immunosuppression on experimental E. intestinalis infection in C57BL/6 mice.
- To establish an immunosuppressed murine model for investigating host-parasite interactions.
Summary:
- Mice treated with CsA showed increased E. intestinalis spore excretion in stool and duodenal fluid compared to immunocompetent infected mice.
- Specific IgG antibody production was significantly lower in CsA-immunosuppressed infected mice.
- Parasite dissemination beyond the small intestine was not observed in any experimental group.
Impact:
- Cyclosporine A immunosuppression in mice did not lead to parasite dissemination or severe illness progression.
- The model highlights altered spore excretion kinetics and reduced antibody response under immunosuppression.
- This study provides insights into the immune response modulation during E. intestinalis infections in an immunosuppressed state.
