Open AccessHigh Levels of Susceptibility and T Helper 2 Response in MyD88-Deficient Mice Infected withLeishmania majorAre Interleukin-4 Dependent
Author(s) -
Andrea Debus,
Joachim Gläsner,
Martin Röllinghoff,
André Gessner
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
infection and immunity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.508
H-Index - 220
eISSN - 1070-6313
pISSN - 0019-9567
DOI - 10.1128/iai.71.12.7215-7218.2003
Subject(s) - biology , leishmania major , immunology , knockout mouse , leishmania , receptor , interleukin 4 , interleukin , immune system , parasite hosting , cytokine , genetics , world wide web , computer science
Myeloid differentiation protein 88 (MyD88) is a general adaptor for the signaling cascade through receptors of the Toll/IL-1R family. When infected with Leishmania major parasites, MyD88-deficient mice displayed a dramatically enhanced parasite burden in their tissues similar to that found in susceptible BALB/c mice. In contrast, MyD88 knockout mice did not develop ulcerating lesions despite a lack of interleukin-12 (IL-12) production and a predominant T helper 2 cell response. Blockade of IL-4 produced early (day 1) after infection restored a protective T helper 1 response in MyD88 knockout mice.