Garlic Extracts Up-regulate IL-4 and IL-13 Cytokines and Increase the Goblet Cell Numbers in Eimeria vermiformis Infected Mice

Abstract

We investigated the immune regulation, goblet cell responses and the anti-oxidative role of garlic extracts in the Eimeria vermiformis parasitized ileum in mice. Garlic extracts up-regulate IL-4 and IL-13 cytokines and increase the goblet cell numbers in Eimeria vermiformis-infected mice. The results showed that garlic extract is protective in response to E. vermiformis infection. Experiment was formed of three groups. Control group, mice were delivered distilled water. Infected group, rats were inoculated orally with E. vermiformis in a dose of 300 mature oocysts. The infected + garlic group was given garlic extracts at a dose of 500 mg/kg. b.w every day for ten days before infection, thereafter was inoculated orally with E. vermiformis in a dose of 300 mature oocysts, and the garlic treatment was continued to the end of the study day 9 post infection. Ileum tissues were harvested for immune and histological analyses. Compared to the infected group, garlic extracts upregulated the expressions of IL-13 and IL-4 in the parasitized section. Garlic extracts decreased the fecal oocyst numbers as well as tissue oocyst numbers. In contradiction to decreasing the parasitic oocysts numbers, goblet cell numbers in ten successive Villus-Crypt Units (VCU) in the ileal tissues were significantly increased. Furthermore, garlic treatment caused a significant decrease in the lipid peroxidation (MDA) level with an increased concentration of Glutathione Reductase (GR) enzyme. In histopathology, ileum exhibited a significant reduction in the advancement of the reproductive stages of E. vermiformis with improvement to the pathological damage caused by E. vermiformis infection.