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The role of TNF‐α in Trichuris muris infection I: influence of TNF‐α receptor usage, gender and IL‐13
Author(s) -
HAYES K. S.,
BANCROFT A. J.,
GRENCIS R. K.
Publication year - 2007
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 - 10.1111/j.1365-3024.2007.00979.x
Subject(s) - biology , immunology , immune system , tumor necrosis factor alpha , receptor , cytokine , genetics
SUMMARY Th1 and Th2 responses to the gut‐dwelling nematode Trichuris muris have been well established in mouse models of infection, with Th2 responses clearly playing an important role in resistance. TNF‐α has previously been shown to play an undefined role in resistance, although it is not a typical Th2 cytokine. However, the relative importance of the two TNF‐α receptors, p55 and p75, has not previously been investigated. We demonstrate that p55 is the dominant TNF‐α receptor during T. muris infection as p55 −/– mice are more susceptible to infection than p75 −/– mice. Moreover, p75 clearly plays a role in negatively regulating TNF‐α. We also demonstrate that a gender difference influences the immune response of p55 −/– and p75 −/– mice in response to T. muris infection, with female mice fully expelling by day 35 post‐infection (p.i.) and male mice harbouring chronic infections. Further, this gender difference can be reversed with recombinant IL‐13 (rIL‐13) in male gene‐deficient mice or IL‐13R2.Fc treatment in female gene‐deficient mice.