Recombinant Galectins of Hemonchus contortus Inhibit Goat Cytokine mRNA Transcription of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in vitro

The effects of recombinant galectins of male and female Hemonchus contortus (Hco-gal-m/f) on the mRNA levels of IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) of goat peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were examined in this study. Blood samples were collected from five randomly selected two-year-old healthy goats. PBMCs were separated and cultured in vitro with varying concentration galectins (Hco-gal-m/f) of 0, 10, 20, and 40 μg mL−1. Semi-quantitative reverse transcription RT-PCR was employed to test the synthesis of mRNA. The results showed that the mRNA transcriptions of IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IFN-γ, and TNF-α in the PBMCs were inhibited by Hco-gal-m in a dose-dependent manner. Hco-gal-f inhibited mRNA synthesis of IL-1β, IL-4, IFN-γ and TNF-α of the same cells in similar fashion. The findings suggested that the recombinant galectin proteins of H. contortus could decrease the transcription of cytokines in vitro.