Abstract: 　AIM: To observe the changes in Th2 cytokines in the liver and bone marrow of mice infected with schistosomiasis japonica. METHODS: ABC immunohistochemical staining technique and multimedia pathological picture analysis were used. Meanwhile, IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10 derived from livers and bone marrows of infected mice were observed at wk 8, 10 and 12 after infection. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: In the livers of infected mice, the levels of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10 increased obviously with a prolongation of the infection duration, IL-4 being the highest. However, in the bone marrow of infected mice, IL-4 level increased slowly with the duration of the infection, being lower than those in the liver at wk 10 and 12 after infection. The level of IL-5 was higher than that in the liver within 12 wk. At wk 10 after infection IL-10 tended to increase, but decreased thereafter and was obviously lower than that in the liver. In mice infected with Schistosoma japonicum, the immune response occurred mainly in the liver. IL-5 in the bone marrow showed auto-secretion. \;

Key words: Mouse, schistosomiasis japonica, interleukin 4, interleukin 5, interleukin 10