Participation of T, B and NKT Lymphocytes and CD1 Molecule in the Infection by Entamoeba histolytica in Mice

Studies have shown that CD1 double negative mice (CD1d) develop larger liver abscesses due to their inability to present amebic antigens to NK T lymphocytes. Therefore, we conducted flow cytometry studies to determine the frequency of NK T, CD4 T, CD8 T and B lymphocytes in mice with amebic colitis. The frequency of NK T, CD8 T and B lymphocytes was reduced in the MLN of mice in the CTRL-CD1 and Eh-CD1 groups compared to the CTRL-WT and Eh-WT groups. There was also a significant decrease in the frequency of B lymphocytes in the spleens of the animals in the Eh-WT group when compared with the CTRL-CD1, EhCD1 and CTRL-WT groups. The results of the flow cytometry analysis highlight the importance of NK T lymphocytes in the immune response of mice to amebic intestinal infection and the importance of CD1 molecules in the activation of T and B lymphocytes.