PARASITE ANTIGEN-INDUCED IFN-GAMMA AND IL-4 PRODUCTION BY CELLS FROM PATHOPERMISSIVE AND PATHORESISTANT STRAINS OF MICE INFECTED WITH TRYPANOSOMA-CRUZI

The cardiac pathology associated with infection by Trypanosoma cruzi i n mice has been suggested to be partially dependent upon cytokine resp onses. The pathoresistant B10.D2 mice, which display little infection- induced myocarditis, and the pathopermissive DBA/2 mice, which show si gnificant cardiac damage, were compared for their in vitro interferon (IFN)-gamma and interleukin (IL)-4 production. Concanavalin A-stimulat ed spleen cells from infected B10.D2 mice produce a greater amount of IFN?I than DBA/2 mice, whereas the IL-4 production is only slightly gr eater in the B10.D2 mice than the DBA/2 mice. Parasite antigen stimula tion of spleen cells from these mice results in a clearly greater IFN gamma production bq the B10.D2 and a higher IL-4 level for the DBA/2 m ice. The data presented suggest a relationship between an enhanced TH1 -type response and decreased chronic cardiac pathogenesis, whereas a l ower level of TH1 activity may play a role in cardiac involvement.