Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II and Co-stimulatory Molecule CD80 Expression in Splenic Dendritic Cells from BALB/c Mice Infected with Neospora caninum

Abstract

Abstract

We determined the expression of major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC) and the costimulatory molecule CD80 between dendritic cells (DCs) from spleens of non-infected and Neospora caninum-infected mice. BALB/c mice were infected intraperitoneally with a 0.1 ml suspension containing 5×104 trachyzoites of the NC-1 strain of N. caninum sacrifi ced on days 3, 5, and 7 post-infection, and splenic DCs were isolated with 14.5% w/v metrizamide gradient and characterized by expression of high levels of surface membrane antigen; CD205. The expression of MHC class II and CD80 in the splenic DCs of non-infected and N. caninum-infected mice was examined by fl ow cytometry. Our results demonstrated for the fi rst time that MHC class II on DCs was signifi cantly increased level during N. caninum infection. Furthermore, an up-regulation of CD80 was shown two-fold level at 7 days’ post-infection. Both MHC class II and CD80 are important for antigen presentation, these results agree with the accepted concept that DCs participate in generating of Ag-specifi c immunity during infection.

Keywords: co-stimulatory molecule CD80; dendritic cell; major histocompatibility complex class II; Neospora caninum