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Type 2‐biased expression of cytokine genes in lung granulomatous lesions induced by Nippostrongylus brasiliensis infection
Author(s) -
Matsuda Shinji,
Tani Yoichi,
Yamada Minoru,
Yoshimura Kentaro,
Arizono Naoki
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
parasite immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.795
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1365-3024
pISSN - 0141-9838
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-3024.2001.00376.x
Subject(s) - nippostrongylus brasiliensis , biology , in situ hybridization , cytokine , granuloma , lung , pathogenesis , immunology , pathology , proinflammatory cytokine , lesion , interleukin 4 , gene expression , inflammation , immune system , gene , medicine , biochemistry
Infections with helminthic parasites occasionally induce pulmonary diseases with possible involvement of immunological mechanisms. In rats infected with the nematode Nippostrongylus brasiliensis , pulmonary granulomatous lesions develop and persist after the larvae have migrated through the lungs. To determine the pathogenesis of this lesion, we examined cytokine gene expression in the lungs using RT‐PCR and in situ hybridization. Two weeks after infection, when fully developed lesions appeared, levels of IL‐3 and of type2 cytokines IL‐4, IL‐5, IL‐6 and IL‐13 gene expression were markedly enhanced in whole lung homogenates. Those of IL‐2 and IFN‐γ were also slightly increased 2 weeks postinfection. IL‐12 mRNA level did not change after 2 weeks but was slightly increased after 4 weeks. Levels of IL‐10 and proinflammatory cytokine TNF gene expression did not show significant changes, although a slight increase was observed in IL‐1β message after 2 weeks. In situ hybridization studies showed that lung granulomatous lesions were composed mainly of lymphoid cells expressing IL‐3, IL‐4 and IL‐13 mRNA, but not IFN‐γ mRNA. IL‐5 mRNA‐expressing cells were fewer in number than these cells. RMCP II immunohistochemistry revealed that mast cells increased in number in the lung granulomas. From these results, it was concluded that the nematode infection‐associated lung granuloma was a type 2 lesion.