Lack of CD4(+) T cells does not affect induction of CD8(+) T-cell immunity against Encephalitozoon cuniculi infection.

ABSTRACT: Cell-mediated immunity has been reported to play an important role in defense against Encephalitozoon cuniculi infection. Previous studies from our laboratory have underlined the importance of cytotoxic CD8(+) T lymphocytes (CTL) in survival of mice infected with E. cuniculi. In the present study, immune response against E. cuniculi infection in CD4(+) T-cell-deficient mice was evaluated. Similar to resistant wild-type animals, CD4(-/-) mice were able to resolve E. cuniculi infection even at a very high challenge dose (5 x 10(7) spores/mouse). Tissues from infected CD4(-/-) mice did not exhibit higher parasite loads in comparison to the parental wild-type mice. Conversely, at day 21 postinfection, susceptible CD8(-/-) mice had 10(14) times more parasites in the liver compared to control wi

SUBMITTER: Moretto M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC97703 | biostudies-literature | 2000 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature