Differential astrocyte activation by Taenia solium antigens: Specific induction of IL-10 and IL-1β by Excretory/Secretory (ES) products

Background: Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a parasitic infection of the central nervous system (CNS) caused by the larval form of Taenia solium. This disease provokes an inflammatory response that intensifies when the parasite dies. This study aimed to assess the expression of the cytokines IL-10, IL-1β, and TGF-β in primary astrocyte cultures derived from rat brains at 5 and 14 days in vitro (DIV) following exposure to T. solium cysticercus antigens. Methods: Primary astrocyte cultures obtained from 3-day-old postnatal rats were incubated for 24 h with either Excretory/Secretory (E/S) antigens or Total antigen (Tag), while lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used as a positive control. Cytokine expression (IL-10, IL-1β, and TGF-β1) was quantified by RT-qPCR. Results: DIV5 culture contains astrocytes and neurons, while in DIV14 only astrocytes were detected. At DIV5, the incubation with E/S products increased the gene expression of IL-10 and IL-1β. Conversely,at DIV14, E/S antigens only augmented IL-10 mRNA levels. Moreover, Tag did not change IL-10, IL-1β, and TGF-β gene expression in both DIV5 and DIV14 cultures. Finally, TGF-β expression remains unchanged after T. solium antigen exposure. Conclusions: T. solium E/S products may differentially modulate astrocyte cytokine responses in a stage-dependent manner. In addition, the Tag obtained from viable cysts does not affect the studied cytokine gene expression. These results underscore the potential role of astrocytes in the neuroinflammatory processes associated with NCC.