Modulation of both interleukin 2 receptor expression and interleukin 2 production during experimental murine Trypanosoma cruzi infection.
A massive activation of T cells takes place during the early stages of a Trypanosoma cruzi infection in mice. We present data indicating that substantial amounts of interleukin 2 (IL-2) are secreted and IL-2 receptors are expressed during the period of increased proliferation (4-7 days post infection). Both concanavalin A-induced proliferation and IL-2 production are markedly decreased later in the acute infection (around 3 weeks post infection). This proliferation cannot be restored by externally added IL-2. Simultaneously, there is a drastic reduction in the number of both high- and low-affinity IL-2 receptors. The reduction is not attributable to the elimination of a particular T-cell population. In vivo administration of recombinant IL-2 failed to improve resistance to T. cruzi parasites as measured by parasitaemia and mortality.
Rottenberg
M
M
National Institute for the Investigation and Diagnosis of Chagas' Disease, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Lindqvist
C
C
Koman
A
A
Segura
E L
EL
Orn
A
A
D000818:Animals; D002469:Cell Separation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism
D007376:Interleukin-2; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D003208:Concanavalin A