Schistosoma japonicum-infected mice show reduced hepatic fibrosis and eosinophilia and selective inhibition of interleukin-5 secretion by CD4+ cells after treatment with anti-interleukin-2 antibodies.
Schistosoma japonicum-infected mice were injected with antibodies to interleukin-2 (IL-2) and/or IL-2 receptor to clarify the role of IL-2 on the granulomatous reaction around schistosome eggs in the liver. Granulomas were of normal or slightly increased size in animals subjected to IL-2 blockade, but hepatic fibrosis was markedly decreased in treated animals 10 weeks after infection. Anti-IL-2 treatment significantly decreased the in vitro secretion of IL-5 by antigen-stimulated spleen cells, and peripheral eosinophilia and tissue eosinophilia were diminished. Secretion of IL-2, IL-4, and gamma interferon was unaffected. Our results indicate that IL-2 is not an essential determinant of granuloma size in S. japonicum-infected mice but that, as in Schistosoma mansoni infection, the development of hepatic fibrosis is critically dependent on IL-2 levels and granuloma size and hepatic fibrosis are differentially regulated.
Cheever
A W
AW
Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
Xu
Y
Y
Sher
A
A
Finkelman
F D
FD
Cox
T M
TM
Macedonia
J G
JG
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006099:Granuloma / Q000473:pathology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D012554:Schistosomiasis japonica / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology
D000906:Antibodies; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015848:Interleukin-5; D015847:Interleukin-4