EFFECT OF ANTI-IL-5 ANTIBODY ON THE INTESTINAL EOSINOPHILS AND IGA PLASMA-CELLS RESPONSE IN MICE INFECTED WITH TRICHINELLA-SPIRALIS

The effect of anti-IL-5 monoclonal antibodies (mAb) on the level of eo sinophilia, the number of IgA plasma cells in lamina propria and the l evel of IL-5 in scraped mucosa of small intestine in BALB/c mice was e xamined. Eosinophils and plasma cells in lamina propria were assessed in frozen sections of small intestine. The level of IL-5 was monitored using capture ELISA. The influence of mAb anti-IL-5 on the total cell number and number of eosinophils was measured in the peritoneal cavit y. Intraperitoneal injection of 0.5 mg anti-IL-5 mAb on the 3rd and 5t h day after infection (DAI) with 200 T. spiralis larvae strongly depre ssed both eosinophils and IgA plasma cells response in the lamina prop ria on day 15th and 24th after infection. There was a positive correla tion between the number of eosinophils and the level of IL-5 as well a s between the number of IgA plasma cells and level of IL-5. IL-5 was e ssential for eosinophils and IgA response in small intestine and a par tial role for IL-5 in protection against T. spiralis was observed.