IN VITRO IL-4, IL-12, AND IFN-γ PRODUCTION BY SPLENOCYTES FROM ANCYLOSTOMA CEYLANICUM INFECTED HAMSTERS

The aim of the study was the production of chicken polyclonal antibodies recognising hamster IL-4, IL-12p35, and IFN-gamma, which were further used to estimate cytokine concentrations in splenocyte culture supernatants, obtained from three age groups of Ancylostoma ceylanicum infected hamsters. Worm burdens differed significantly among age groups; the younger animals were the more heavily infected. Th1 and Th2 type cytokines were detected only in cultures containing spleen cells from the oldest hamsters, which were the most resistant to hookworm infection. In cultures of cells from young more susceptible hamsters, the presence of IL-4 and IL-12 but not IFN-gamma were observed.