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The biological effects induced in mice by p36, a proteinaceous factor of virulence produced by African swine fever virus, are mediated by interleukin‐4 and also to a lesser extent by interleukin‐10
Author(s) -
Manuel Vilanova,
Paula Ferreira,
Ana M. Ribeiro,
M.P. Arala-Chaves
Publication year - 1999
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.1365-2567.1999.00629.x
Subject(s) - biology , spleen , immunosuppression , virus , immune system , cytokine , immunology , monoclonal antibody , interleukin 4 , interleukin , interferon gamma , virology , virulence , interferon , antibody , gene , biochemistry
We have previously presented indirect evidence that both specific immunosuppression and lymphocyte mitogenicity induced in mice by p36, a proteinaceous factor of virulence produced by porcine monocytes infected by African swine fever virus, were consistent with a Th2‐driven response. Here we show: (1) Interleukin‐4 (IL‐4) and interleukin‐10 (IL‐10) mRNA expression in the spleen and thymus of C57BL/6 mice were displayed early after p36 inoculation. The expression of thymic IL‐10 mRNA occurred, however, later than that of IL‐4 mRNA. (2) Increased serum levels of these two cytokines were also soon detected after the protein inoculation. (3) Both immunosuppressive and mitogenic effects of p36 were absent in IL‐4 gene‐targeted mice and partially abrogated in mice depleted of IL‐4 by neutralizing monoclonal antibodies. (4) IL‐10 depletion abrogated the immunosuppressive but not the p36 lymphocyte mitogenic biological effects. (5) The increase in the serum concentrations of both IL‐4 and IL‐10 were lower in thymectomized than in non‐thymectomized mice. (6) The expression of interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) mRNA was weakly or not at all induced in p36‐treated mice. Taken together, these results are in agreement with the promotion of a Th2 immune response induced by p36.