Figure 8.
Depletion of macrophages resulted in impaired expulsion of N. brasiliensis, but did not affect N. brasiliensis infection-induced upregulation of IL-4 or IL-13. Mice were infected with N. brasiliensis (Nb) or treated with vehicle (VEH). Clodronate- (Cl2MDP) or control PBS-(PBS) containing liposomes were administrated (i.v., 0.2 ml at days 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 after inoculation) to deplete macrophages. Intestinal strips were taken for the measurement of the mRNA expression of IL-4 and IL-13 by real-time quantitative PCR (A). Separate groups of mice were infected with N. brasiliensis and treated with Cl2MDP. At the day 9 post infection, the intestine was collected for worm counting (B) and feces was collected for egg counting (C). *p<0.05 vs the respective WT-VEH; ϕp<0.05 vs the respective PBS (n≥5 for each group).