RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The immunoglobulin E (IgE) response to Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection increases in the host. This study analyzed the IgG and IgE responses detected in different body fluids of A. cantonensis-infected mice. METHODS: BALB/c (high susceptibility), CBA (medium), and C57BL/6 and C57BL/10 (resistance) strain mice were used in this study. The levels of IgM, IgG, and IgE in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from infected mice were compared. A. cantonensis-reactive antigens from BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice CSF were also analyzed. RESULTS: Antibodies against fifth-stage larvae (L5) antigens increased in mice CSF, particularly IgE, relate to worm rejection and the susceptibility of different mouse strains. The increased IgE level in BALB/c mice CSF is lower than that from others, suggesting IgE response in brain is more important than that in serum. Anti-L5 and anti-excretory/secretory (ES) antigen IgE and IgG responses in CSF were analyzed. In addition, the antibody-dependent eosinophil-mediated cytotoxicity induced by anti-excretory/secretory (ES) antigen antibodies may be the reason of severe brain inflammation in infected BALB/c mice. IgE and IgG antibodies against a 105 kDa protein of L5 antigen was detected at week 3 post-infection in C57BL/6 mice and week 5 post-infection in BALB/c mice. We suggest that 105 kDa protein is related with the antibody response of A. cantonensis-infected mice. CONCLUSION: We found that IgE antibodies in mice CSF against L5 antigens related to worm rejection in mice brains. This study may help to identify specific angiostrongyliasis markers that can be applied for clinical diagnosis and treatment in future.