Effect of levamisole on T-cell subpopulation in mice infected with Echinococcus granulosus

Objective To explore the immunological regulative effect of levamisole(LMS) on mice infected with Echinococcus granulosus and the turnover of disease. Methods After abdominal inoculation of E. granulosus, mice were divided into NS group and LMS group, then respectively treated with normal saline and LMS(25 mg/kg) for 7 days at 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 week after infection . We researched the percentage of CD4+ T cell, CD8+ T cell and CD4+ / CD8+ using FCM and estimate spleen exponent, thymus exponent, average weight of cyst at these different times.And, another 8 healthy mice were as control group. Results As compared with control group, the percentage of CD4+ T cell and CD8+ T cell of NS group showed a significant increase(P0.01) after 2 weeks of post infection(p.i), then the percentage of CD4+ T cell decreased and the percentage of CD8+ T cell increased gradually. After 16 and 20 weeks of p.i, the percentage of CD4+ T cell, CD8+ T cell and CD4+/CD8+showed prominent difference (P0.01) compared with NS group. As compared with NS group, the percentage of CD4+ T cell and CD8+ T cell of LMS group increased clearly after 2 weeks of p.i, and after 16 weeks of p.i the percentage of CD4+ T cell and CD4+/CD8+ increased, the percentage of CD8+ T cell and the average weight of cyst decreased in LMS group(P0.01), they all showed prominent difference (P0.01) compared with NS group. Conclusion Levamisole can regulate the immune response of mice infected with E. granulosus. In later period of infection it can increase spleen exponent of mice, cause CD4+ / CD8+back to the normal level, strengthen the immunity of mice, then abate the proliferation of E. granulosus.