INCREASED EXPRESSION OF PRO-IL-l8 BY INTESTINAL EPITHELIAL CELLS INFECTED WITH CRYPTOSPORIDIUM PARVUM.(Abstract)

M.J.G. Farthing [1]

Digestive Dept of Adult & Paediatric Gastroenterology, St Bartholomew's & The Royal London School of Medicine;

(1.) Faculty of Medicine, Univ. Glasgow, UK

Introduction: Cryptosporidiosis is an important cause of diarrhoea world-wide. The causative organism, C.parvum, is an intracellular parasite that infects the gastrointestinal epithelium. The development of a Th1-mediated immune response and in particular enhancement of IFN [gamma] production is critical in the control of the parasite. Epithelial cells may function as immune sensors of infection by producing cytokines including the Th1 inducing cytokine IL-18. We therefore …