Abstract: AIM: To explore the cellular immunoregulation in Trichinella spiralis infected C57BL/6J mice. METHOD: IL-2 and IL-6 levels induced by in vitro Trichinella antigen and ConA stimulated splenocytes from lightly and heavily infected C57BL/6J mice were determined by using the dependent cell line HT2 and 7TD1, IgG level was deterined by ELISA, and CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ levels were determined by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The production of IL-2 was predominant in the early phase after infection, while the production of IL-6 was mainly in the later phase. The levels of IL-2 and IL-6 secreted were higher in the heavily infected group than in the lightly infected group. IgG first appeared on d7 after infection and reached its peak through d28 to d35. From d14 to d21 the CD4⁺ T cells showed a decrease and then increased; while the CD8⁺ T cells increased gradually throughout the period after infection. CONCLUSION: The sustained increase in IL-6 4weeks after infection might play an important role in the acquired immunity of trichinosis. The coincidence of the increase in IL-2 and CD8⁺ suggests that the cytokines of Th1 might promote the activation of CD8⁺ T cells.

Key words: Trichinella spiralis, IL-2, IL- 6, IgG, CD4+;, CD8+