The effect of poisoning with sodium nitrite on subpopulations of T lymphocytes in mice infected with Trichinella spiralis

The most pronounced decline in the percentage of CD4⁺ lymphocytes in MLN of mice infected with T. spiralis was observed when the nitrite was administrated for 10 or 25 days. Less pronounced differences were observed in percentage of CD8⁺ lymphocytes, both in MLN and PP of mice. Infection with T. spiralis alone brought a pronounced decline of CD4⁺ lymphocytes in MLN, whereas the percentage of CD8⁺ lymphocytes remained at the level of control. Treatment with sodium nitrite alone caused a clear increase in the percentage of CD8⁺ cells as compare to untreated and non-infected control. The latter phenomenon may result in depressed immune responses, possibly responsible for a greater intensity of T. spiralis infection in sodium nitrite-treated mice.