Cytokine Profiling in Murine Schistosomiasis

Cytokine assays were assessed in whole blood (without stimulus), from six mice per group per time point derived from cross-sectional assay➀, as previously described (35 (link)). Spleens were removed aseptically and processed as previously described (36 (link)). Cell viability counts were performed after staining with Trypan blue. Cells (1x10⁶ per well) were plated on 24-well plates and stimulated with schistosomula extract (15 µg/ml) or concanavalin A (5 µg/ml, Sigma) as a positive control for cell reactivity, or saline as a negative control. After 72 h, culture supernatants were collected for cytokine assay using a Mouse Th1/Th2/Th17 CBA kit (BD™ Cytometric Bead Array). All procedures were conducted according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Data was plotted by subtracting the baseline levels of cytokine production (no stimulus) for each group, and then displayed as a heatmap (z-score).