Cytokine response of mice to heavy metal intoxication and Ascaris suum infection

摘要

Mice were chronically intoxicated with lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) or mercury (Hg) and subsequentlyinfected with Ascaris suum. Pb and Hg modulated murine immune response in Th2 type, that dominated alsoafter subsequent infection and caused more intensive development of parasite infection in mice intoxicated withPb. Low numbers of parasite larvae in mice intoxicated with Hg were not associated with an effective immuneresponse but with a cachectic status of animals. Cd stimulated IFN-γ production and Th1 immune response,which induced reduction and destruction of larvae in the liver of intoxicated mice.