Immunological characterization of Neospora caninum cyclophilin.

Neosporosis is caused by an intracellular protozoan,Neospora caninum, which is an important pathogen of dogs and cattle. In this study, we analyzed Neospora caninum cyclophilin 18 protein (NcCyp18), which regulates proliferation and migration of murine macrophages and lymphocytes. From our study, NcCyp18 showed the activity of macrophage proliferation in a CCR5-independent manner and activity of spleen cell proliferation in a CCR5-dependent manner. NcCyp18 showed the activity of macrophage migration in a CCR5-independent manner and activity of spleen cell migration in a CCR5-dependent manner. Moreover, recombinant NcCyp18 induced the production of the nitric oxide and IL-12 p40. The data suggest that NcCyp18 recruits host cells and enhances the growth of host cells at the site of infection for maintenance of interaction between the parasite and host.