title: Low-level infection with Trichuris muris significantly affects the polarization of the CD4 response.
abstract: Resistance and susceptibility to the intestinal nematode Trichuris muris has been shown to be dependent upon the induction of T helper type 2 (Th2) or Th1 cells, respectively. This study demonstrates that in a normally resistant strain of mouse, i.e. BALB/K which mounts a dominant Th2 response, sub-threshold levels of infection (< 40 eggs) can survive and become sexually mature adult worms (10-20 adults). The immunological basis of this phenomenon was found to be a dramatically altered polarization of the CD4 response. The Th2-response characteristic of this strain of mouse infected with T. muris was shown to be significantly down-regulated as assessed by in vitro cytokine production [interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5 and IL-9]. In contrast, Th1 parameters of infection such as in vitro interferon-gamma production and the presence of parasite-specific IgG2a were greatly up-regulated in these mice.
authors: School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, GB.
authors: A J
authors: AJ
authors: Bancroft
authors: K J
authors: KJ
authors: Else
authors: R K
authors: RK
authors: Grencis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000276:immunology*; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D014257:Trichuriasis / Q000276:immunology*; D014258:Trichuris / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D016207:Cytokines; D015847:Interleukin-4