Peritoneal B cells drop is associated with a plasma cell differentiation process.

<p>A group of mice (n = 12) was inoculated ip with 2000 protoscoleces and another group (n = 8) was inoculated with equal volume of sterile PBS (control group). Three infected and 2 control animals were sacrificed at days 3, 5, 7 and 9 pi and their peritoneal cells were recovered. qRT-PCR was performed using specific primers for murine Pax5, Blimp-1 and Bcl-6, and relative mRNA levels were expressed respect to control group. Results are shown as group median and data range (A and B). Another group of infected (n = 6) and control mice (n = 6) were sacrificed at day 5 pi and their peritoneal leukocytes were culture for 72 h in complete RPMI without stimulation. Anti-PSA specific IgM, IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b and IgG3 titers were determined by ELISA in culture supernatants. Results are shown as individual values (circles) and group median (lines) (C and D). (*) Statistical significance (p<0.05) compared to control group. Results are representative of two independent experiments.