Recombinant C-Type Lectin Protein of Toxocara Canis Increases the Population of Spleen Foxp3+ Regulatory T Cells in Balb/C Mice Publisher Pubmed



Shahbakhsh M¹ ; Hosseini SH¹ ; Bonab SF³ ; Malekzadeh P¹ ; Moghadasi AN² ; Shayan P¹ ; Vojgani M³ ; Jalousian F¹ Show Affiliations
Source: Annals of Parasitology Published:2022

Abstract

Toxocara canis (T. canis) is a common parasitic nematode in dogs and cats. Parasitic worms can cause chronic and long-term infections in their host, due to their ability to neutralize the host’s defense mechanisms. They can stimulate immune response-mediated regulatory T (T-reg) cells. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of recombinant T. canis C-type lectin protein (TCTL-1) on cell infiltration in the brains of BALB /c mice as well as the number of regulatory T cells. Six-week-old female BALB/c mice received the recombinant C-type lectin protein of T. canis six times intravenously and intraperitoneally. Twenty-eight days after the first injection, the spleen and brain of mice were removed under sterile conditions. The brains of mice were examined by histopathological staining methods. The FOXP3+ regulatory T cell population was determined by flow cytometry. The cell populations of regulatory T cells in spleen mononuclear cell culture of 3 female BALB/c mice injected with recombinant TCTL-1 (group I) were 2.59%, 1.64%, and 1.78 and in spleen mononuclear cell culture of three female BALB/c mice injected with sterile PBS (group II) as a control group were 1.14%, 1.13%, and 1.15%. Also, no cell infiltration was seen around the cerebral arteries of mice receiving this protein. This recombinant protein would increase the population of FOXP3+ regulatory T cells. These results suggest that recombinant C-type lectin protein of T. canis can modulate immune responses, reduce severe inflammatory responses, and induce FOXP3+ regulatory T cells. © 2022 Polish Parasitological Society.