Cytokine Profiles in the Central Nervous System and the Spleen During the Early Course of Experimental African Trypanosomiasis

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Abstract
Cytokines are important signalling proteins, which have been shown to contribute to immunopathogenesis of several inflammatory and infectious diseases such as African trypanosomiasis. The present study was conducted in order to evaluate the early induction of five potential cytokines in the central nervous system (CNS) and spleens from Trypanosoma brucei brucei (T. b. brucei)-inoculated and uninfected control Sprague–Dawley rats. In brain, choroid plexus and spleen, cytokine levels were examined by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, while ELISA was used to measure cytokine levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Our results showed that interferon (IFN)-γ and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β were highly expressed in all compartments, but low interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α mRNA levels were registered. The pattern of these cytokines is in context with the severity of the disease because (i) IFN-γ was previously demonstrated to promote parasite growth (ii) TNF-α was previously demonstrated to kill the parasites and (iii) IL-4 was previously demonstrated to promote antibody production necessary for elimination of the infection. These data support the hypothesis that cytokines may have a role in developing the disease either by enhancing the parasite growth or by suppressing the immune response.