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Signalling through the IL‐2 receptor γ c peptide (CD132) is essential for the expression of immunity to Plasmodium chabaudi adami blood‐stage malaria
Author(s) -
WEIDANZ W. P.,
LaFLEUR G.,
KITAYARBRO A.,
NELSON K.,
BURNS J. M.
Publication year - 2011
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.1365-3024.2011.01298.x
Subject(s) - parasitemia , plasmodium chabaudi , biology , immunology , immunity , malaria , receptor , cytokine , immune system , plasmodium falciparum , genetics
Summary A genetic dissection approach was employed to determine whether the IL‐2 receptor complex (IL‐2R) comprised of α, β and γ chains is required for the suppression of Plasmodium chabaudi adami parasitemia. Blood‐stage infections in IL‐2Rγ c −/y mice failed to cure with parasitemia remaining elevated for >50 days indicating the IL‐2Rγ c through which all members of the γ c family of cytokines signal has an essential role in protective immunity against blood‐stage malarial parasites. In contrast, the curing of parasitemia in IL‐2/15Rβ −/− mice, deficient in both IL‐2 and IL‐15 signalling was significantly delayed but did occur, indicating that neither cytokine plays an essential role in parasite clearance. Moreover, the observation that the time course of parasitemia in IL‐15 −/− mice was nearly identical to that seen in controls suggests that the parasitemia‐suppressing role of stimulating through the IL‐2/15Rβ chain is owing to IL‐2 signalling and not a redundant function of IL‐15.