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Early cytokine responses during intestinal parasitic infections
Author(s) -
Naohisa Ishikawa,
P.K. Goyal,
Yashwant R. Mahida,
K F Li,
D. Wakelin
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.297
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1365-2567
pISSN - 0019-2805
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2567.1998.00412.x
Subject(s) - immunology , biology , nippostrongylus brasiliensis , immune system , adoptive cell transfer , cytokine , antigen , t helper cell , mesenteric lymph nodes , trichinella spiralis , t cell , interferon gamma , immunity , stimulation , interleukin 4 , endocrinology
Infections with gastro‐intestinal nematodes elicit immune and inflammatory responses mediated by cytokines released from T‐helper type‐2 (Th2) cells. In vitro assays of cells from the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) of experimentally infected rodents confirm that, after about 1 week, the dominant cytokine responses to mitogens and antigens are those associated with this Th‐cell subset. Polarization of the Th response in this way implies an initial local cytokine enviroment that favours Th2 development. However, experimental infections with Trichinella spiralis and Nippostrongylus brasiliensis show that, within 2 days of worms reaching the intestine, MLN cells (MLNC) respond with a Th1 rather than a Th2 response [i.e. there is an increase in mRNA for the type 1 cytokine interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ), and mitogen‐stimulated MLNC release IFN‐γ rather than interleukin‐5 (IL‐5)]. Antigen stimulation at this time does not elicit IFN‐γ release and the MLNC cannot adoptively transfer immunity. Within a few days the MLNC phenotype changes. There is a Th2 response (IL‐5 release) to both mitogen and antigen stimulation and MLNC can adoptively transfer immunity. Early release of IFN‐γ is T‐cell dependent, with CD4 + T cells playing the major role. The data are discussed in relation to factors regulating the mucosal response to invasion by parasites.