Manipulation of IL-10 gene expression by Toxoplasma gondii and its products

BACKGROUND This study was designed to evaluate whether or not T. gondii and its derivatives can change the gene expression level of IL-10 in murine leukocytes in vivo. METHODS Fifty BALB/c mice were divided into 5 groups, four of which received the excretory/secretory product (ESP) from cell culture medium, the ESP from cell free medium, the Toxoplasma lysate product (TLP) and the active tachyzoites, respectively. The fifth group was considered as control and received PBS. The peritoneal leukocytes from the mice were collected. Their total RNA were extracted and converted to cDNA and the gene expression levels of IL-10 in the samples were evaluated by quantitative real time-PCR using the REST-2009 software. RESULTS The findings showed a decrease in the expression level of IL-10 in the TLP group (p=0.004). Moreover, the IL-10 gene expression level was upregulated in the group of the ESP from cell culture medium (p=0.04) and the active tachyzoite group (p=0.04). The expression of IL-10 gene in the group of ESP from cell-free medium was not significant compared to the control one (p=0.45). CONCLUSION T. gondii and its derivatives are able to increase (the active T. gondii tachyzoite and the ESP from cell culture medium) and decrease (the TLP) the gene expression level of IL-10 in a murine model. The question remains to be examined in further study about which molecules are involved in this process.