Abstract: Objective  To observe the effect of anti-osteopontin antibody on the level of IL-2 and IL-5 in the liver of gerbil infected with Echinococcus multilocularis(Em).  Methods  180 gerbils were infected with echinococcus protoscoleces (approximately 400 for each gerbil) by abdominal opening inoculation in liver. The gerbils were randomly divided into three groups with 60 each: experiment group (group A, with anti-osteopontin antibody interference)， control group (group B, with normal rabbit serum injection) and model group (group C, with no interference). Ten gerbils from each group were sacrificed at 20， 60， 100, 140, 180, and 220 days post-infection respectively. The liver tissue with hydatid cysts was collected and the expression of IL-2 and IL-5 was observed after immunohistochemistry staining (SP method).  Results  E. multilocularis hydatid tissue spreaded over the liver and abdominal cavity. The positive expression rate of IL-2 in the tissue showed no statistical difference among the three groups (P＞0.05). On the days 140 and 180, however, the positive expression rate of IL-5 in group A was 40% and 20% respectively， considerably lower than that in group B (100% and 90%) and group C (90% and 80% respectively).  Conclusion  The anti-osteopontin antibody can reduce Th2 type cytokine response in the Em-infected gerbils, which may strengthen the immunity of the host.

Key words: Echinococcus multilocularis, Osteopontin, IL-2, IL-5