CD4+ and CD8+ cells in mice infected with Trichinella spiralis and treated with cyclosporine A.

The mice infected with 200 Trichinella spiralis larvae were injected intraperitoneally with Cyclosporine A (CyA) between 14-18 days post infection (dpi). The drug was administered in a dosis of 50 mg/kg/day. The animals were killed at 21, 28, 35, 42 and 60 dpi and the fragments of spleen, mesenteric lymph node, jejunum and musculus masseter were sectioned in a cryostat and fixed in acetone. The slides were examined with monoclonal sera by the immunofluorescent or immunoenzymatic method. It was found that the number of CD4+ cells in the control and in the CyA-treated mice was similar but in the animals receiving the drug the reaction was less intensive. The stimulation of CD8+ cells of CyA treated mice--especially in the jejunum--was stronger than in the control animals. This fact is important because the CD8+ cells are the APC cells in this organ.