Figure 5
IFN-γ protects against culture positivity, cecal antigen, and cecal inflammation during E. histolytica infection. Mice were challenged with E. histolytica, administered anti-IL-4, anti-IFN-γ, both antibodies, or control IgG as per scheme 1, and killed after 14 days for evaluation of infection by (a) culture positivity rate, (b) cecal amebic antigen, and (c) cecal inflammation score. Numbers of mice shown in (a); *P<0.05. Representative histopathology is shown from the four groups (d). Anti-IL-4-treated mice either exhibited normal histology with clearance or modest cecal thickness with moderate ameba in the lumen (small arrows) and without epithelial ulceration (large arrow). In contrast, control, anti-IFN-γ, and anti-IL4/anti-IFN-γ-treated mice exhibited cecal thickness, abundant ameba in the lumen (small arrows), and ulcerated epithelial surface (large arrow).
