Immunomodulatory activity of gamma radiation-attenuated Toxoplasma gondii in adjuvant arthritic mice

• Published in: Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology Vol. 209; p. 111920
• Main Authors: Hafez, Eman N., Moawed, Fatma S.M., Abdel-Hamid, Gehan R., Eldin, Eman S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 01.08.2020; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Adjuvant arthritis; Arthritis; Attenuation; Autoimmune diseases; Chronic conditions; Cytokines; Evaluation; Freund's adjuvant; Gamma radiation; Gamma rays; IL-1β; Immune system; Immunomodulation; Infections; Inflammation; Interleukin 17; Interleukin 23; Joint diseases; Joints (anatomy); Lupus; Lupus nephritis; Nephritis; Parasites; Parasitic diseases; Protozoa; Rheumatoid arthritis; Rodents; Spleen; Stat6 protein; Survivin; Systemic lupus erythematosus; Toxoplasma gondii; Transforming growth factor-b1; Vaccination; γ Radiation; γ-Interferon; Toxoplasma gondii; Gamma radiation; Immunomodulation; Adjuvant arthritis
• ISSN: 1011-1344; 1873-2682
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2020.111920

There is growing evidence that some parasitic infections can impact a variety of autoimmune diseases by disease-inducing or protecting capacities. Anti-inflammatory molecules secreted by Toxoplasma gondii and other parasites are capable of preventing some autoimmune disease like arthritis, lupus nephritis and systemic lupus erythematosus by acting on the immune system. Here we aimed to evaluate the protective efficacy of vaccination with Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), either gamma radiation-attenuated or not, on an adjuvant arthritis mouse model. Forty female Swiss albino mice were conducted in experiment divided into normal control; mice were injected with Complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) into the right hind paws; mice vaccinated with irradiated T. gondii in the 3rd group and un-irradiated T. gondii in the 4th group then were injected two weeks later with CFA. Histopathological changes and IL-17, STAT6 and ROR-γ levels in the joints, as well as serum survivin and Anti-CCP, were evaluated. Also, the splenic production of TGF-β1, TGF-βR, IL-23, IL-1β, IFN-γ, TFN-∞, NFKβ, MMP1 and MMP3 were assessed. Results exhibited an enhancement of the histopathological changes with diminished the rise of IL-17, STAT 6 and ROR- γ within the joints of both vaccinated groups. Also, serum survivin and Anti-CCP, as well as splenic inflammatory cytokines were reduced. It can be concluded that vaccination with un-irradiated or radiation-attenuated T. gondii exerted a protective effect against adjuvant arthritis with better pathological achievement in the radiation-attenuated vaccinated group. Using gamma radiation-attenuated parasite to exclude the delirious effects of imposing infection of live one may pave the way to new preventative modality against rheumatoid arthritis. •Vaccination with un-irradiated or radiation-attenuated Toxoplasma gondii•Toxoplasma gondii exerted a protective effect against arthritis•Using gamma radiation-attenuated parasite against rheumatoid arthritis