The role of memory T cells in Echinococcus granulosus‐induced sensitization

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes in memory T cells and the related factors in mice by the establishment of a BALB/c mouse model of Echinococcus granulosus‐induced sensitization. METHODS: A sensitized BALB/c mouse model was established by intraperitoneal injection of E. granulosus. A control group (CTRL), a nonsensitized group infected with E. granulosus (CE), and a sensitized group infected with E. granulosus (ANPC) were set up. The pathological changes in lung tissue in mice, the change in memory T cells (CD4 Tm), and the change in peripheral blood nucleated interleukin‐23 (IL‐23) were detected using HE staining, flow cytometry, and liquid‐phase multiple protein quantification techniques, respectively. RESULTS: The individual percentage of mouse memory T cells was 9.14 ± 0.45, 25.23 ± 0.17, and 13.29 ± 0.32 in the CTRL, CE, and ANPC groups, respectively. The percentage of memory T cells in the ANPC group was higher than that in the CTRL group (t = 18.410, p < .001) but lower than that in the CE group (t = −80.147, p < .001). The levels of IL‐23 in peripheral blood of mice in the CTRL, CE, and ANPC groups were 225.76 ± 27.16, 359.21 ± 28.67, and 215.69 ± 22.69, respectively. The level of IL‐23 in peripheral blood of mice in the ANPC group was lower than that in the CE group (t = 9.609, p < .001), and there was no statistical difference with the CTRL group (t = 0.697, p = .502). CONCLUSION: In the BALB/c mouse model of E. granulosus‐induced sensitization, the expression of IL‐23 in peripheral blood increased, and the memory T cell proliferated and became activated; there was a decrease in the content of IL‐23 in peripheral blood and number of activated memory T cells in the sensitization group infected with E. granulosus. The E. granulosus‐induced allergic reaction was related to IL‐23 and the activation of memory T cells.