Cytokine profile of protective anti-Trichinella spiralis CD4+ OX22- and non-protective CD4+ OX22+ thoracic duct cells in rats: secretion of IL-4 alone does not determine protective capacity.
We analysed the cytokine profile of a T cell subset (CD4+ CD45 RC-) that confers protection against Trichinella spiralis infection in rats. These CD4+ cells are generated in the gut and appear in the thoracic duct lymph within 72 h after infection. Cytokine mRNA levels for IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10 and IFN-gamma and functional cytokine secretion for IL-4, IL-5, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and mast cell differentiation activity were tested in vitro following stimulation with T. spiralis antigens. Compared to a non-protective T cell population (CD4+ CD45 RC+ or CD8+), also isolated from the same thoracic lymph, no significant differences were observed in the levels of mRNA for IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10 or IFN-gamma in the protective CD4+ CD45 RC- cells. However, analysis of the cytokine activities in culture supernatant of these T cell subsets following 24 h stimulation in vitro with T. spiralis antigens showed that significant IL-4 and IL-5 activity but little IFN-gamma or TNF-alpha was secreted by the protective CD4+ CD45- RC- cells. Whereas the non-protective CD4+ CD45 RC+ cells secreted significant levels of IL-4, IFN-gamma, mast cell differentiating activity and TNF-alpha but little IL-5 activity. Non-protective CD8+ cells were found to secrete IL-4 but not IL-5. Production of IL-4 was essentially equal for both protective and non-protective T cell subsets. These findings suggest that the presence or absence of IFN-gamma secretion, rather than IL-4 alone, determines whether a T cell subset has protective activity against T. spiralis infection in rats.
Ramaswamy
K
K
James A. Baker Institute of Animal Health, New York State College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca 14853.
Goodman
R E
RE
Bell
R G
RG
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D017578:Immunoglobulin Class Switching / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D013897:Thoracic Duct / Q000166:cytology*; D017160:Trichinella spiralis / Q000276:immunology*; D014235:Trichinellosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control
D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E