Wild type (WT) and CCR5−/− (KO) mice were infected intraperitoneally with T. gondii tachyzoites. Liver and spleen tissues were collected and their total RNA content was isolated at 0, 3 and 5 days post-infection selleck (dpi). Expression of the target mRNA was determined and compared to expression levels at 0 dpi using quantitative PCR. Bars represent the average for each Tozasertib nmr experimental group (0 dpi, n = 3; 3 dpi, n = 5;

5 dpi, n = 9). RH-GFP (GFP): parasites transfected with GFP alone; RH-OE (OE): parasites transfected with TgCyp18HA and GFP. Figure 7 Expression of the chemokines involved in macrophage migration in the livers of infected mice. Wild type (WT) and CCR5−/− (KO) mice were infected intraperitoneally with T. gondii tachyzoites. Fold expression levels for CCL2,

CCL6, CCL12 and CXCL10 mRNA was determined by quantitative PCR. Bars represent the average for each experimental group (0 dpi, n = 3; 3 dpi, n = 5; 5 dpi, n = 9). RH-GFP (GFP): parasites transfected with GFP alone; RH-OE (OE): parasites transfected with TgCyp18HA and GFP. In view of the results of our in vitro and in vivo studies, we examined CCL2, CXCL10 and CCL5 production in the peritoneal fluids of the infected mice (Figure 8). There was no significant difference in the production of CCL2 and CXCL10 in the peritoneal fluids of the infected WT and CCR5−/− mice. However, significantly higher levels of CCL5 were observed in CCR5−/− mice infected

with RH-OE at 3 and 5 dpi, indicating CCL5 production took place in a TgCyp18-dependent and CCR5-independent Bucladesine ic50 way. Figure 8 CCL2, CCL5 and CXCL10 production in the ascites fluid of infected mice. Wild type (WT) and CCR5−/− (KO) mice were infected intraperitoneally with PJ34 HCl T. gondii tachyzoites. CCL2, CCL5 and CXCL10 production in the ascites fluid was measured at 3 and 5 days post-infection (dpi). Each value represents the mean ± the standard deviation of replicate samples (3 dpi, n = 5; 5 dpi, n = 9). RH-GFP (GFP): parasites transfected with GFP alone; RH-OE (OE): parasites transfected with TgCyp18HA and GFP. Discussion Control of acute toxoplasmosis relies on a potent Th1 cell response that requires IL-12 and IFN-γ production, which are generated through both innate and adaptive responses [21, 22]. It appears that Toxoplasma is unique in that it possesses two mechanisms that trigger IL-12 production in DCs and macrophages [3, 12, 23]. One of these mechanisms is dependent upon the common adaptor protein MyD88, and is likely to involve TLR11 [3, 10, 23]. The other mechanism is dependent upon TgCyp18, which is released by extracellular tachyzoites, triggering IL-12 production through binding to CCR5 [12]. Recently, our group reported that TgCyp18 induced production of NO, TNF-α and IL-12p40 in macrophages, and also up-regulated the production of IFN-γ and IL-6 in these cells [13].