IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL DETECTION OF CYTOKINES IN THE LYMPH-NODES AND BRAINS OF MICE RESISTANT OR SUSCEPTIBLE TO TOXOPLASMIC ENCEPHALITIS

BALB/c mice develop toxoplasmic encephalitis (TE) but the pathology re solves; in contrast, CBA/Ca mice develop progressive TE. Immunohistoch emical analysis revealed peak staining for interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma ) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in lymph nodes of both strains on da y 7 of infection, with elevated levels of IFN-gamma and TNF persisting in CBA/Ca mice. TNF was present in the central nervous systems (CNS) of both strains of mice and correlated with severity of pathology. Int erleukin (IL)-2 was detected in lymph nodes and CNS of CBA/Ca mice aft er day 52 of infection and only in the lymph nodes of BALB/c mice betw een days 14 and 21 after infection. Highest levels of IL-10 were obser ved in lymph nodes and CNS of infected CBA/Ca mice. Variations in cyto kine levels in lymph nodes and CNS of these mouse strains may account for differences in their susceptibility to TE.