Figure 2. Multiple infections cause systemic immune hypo-responsiveness and down-regulate the size of egg-induced granulomas in the liver.

(A) Antigen-specific proliferation of sdLN cells from pinnae exposed to 1x or 4x infections on the left pinnae (1xL) or right pinnae (4xR), or both (1x1x and 4x4x). Results show mean ³H-thymidine incorporation (c.p.m.) + SEM (n = 5 mice). (B) Infection regime used to assess the effect of repeated infection on the immune response to mature parasites. (C) Egg-antigen specific proliferation of mesenteric LN cells taken on day 35 from 1x and 4x mice. Bars shows mean ³H-thymidine incorporation (c.p.m.) + SEM (n = 5 mice). (D) Egg antigen-specific IL-4, IFNγ and IL-10 production by mesenteric LN cells taken on day 42 from 1x and 4x mice. Bars shows mean cytokine production + SEM (n = 4 mice). (E) Size of hepatic granulomas surrounding single eggs in 1x and 4x mice on day 42; Points are granuloma areas (measured as µm² from H&E stained liver sections + SEM; n = 37 granulomas). P values are of 4x mice compared to 1x mice.