Polyclonal B cell activation during the course of Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection

The numbers of IgM antibody forming cells against various heterologous antigens: SRBC, HRBC, TNP and FITC, were found to be elevated in the spleens of rats after infection with Angiostrongylus cantonensis. In these rats, the number of splenic B cells and total IgG and IgM levels in serum also increased spontaneously about 2- to 3-fold of uninfected rats during the course of the infection. These results suggested that A. cantonensis infection may activate B cells polyclonally in the spleens of the infected rats. While, it was clearly observed that the antibody response to SRBC injection was significantly depressed in these rats, compared to those of uninfected rats. The relation between the polyclonal B cell activation and the immunodepression was discussed.