title: Accelerated clearance of Onchocerca microfilariae and resistance to reinfection in interleukin-4 gene knockout mice.
abstract: Immunity to Onchocerca microfilariae (mf) in mice is associated with CD4+ Th2 cells and is dependent on IL-5. In view of the role of IL-4 in the development of Th2 cells, we have utilized IL-4 gene knockout mice (IL-4-/-) to investigate microfilarial clearance and resistance to reinfection. Paradoxically, in the absence of IL-4 there is accelerated clearance of microfilariae during a primary infection and unimpeded expression of resistance to reinfection. IL-4-/- mice showed a lack of an IgE response although peripheral eosinophilia was equivalent to wildtype controls. The data presented here suggest that elimination of mf can occur independent of IL-4 and that in this model it may even be detrimental to the host.
authors.affiliation: Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Hogarth
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Folkard
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Bianco
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000276:immunology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008842:Microfilariae / Q000276:immunology; D009854:Onchocerca / Q000276:immunology*; D009855:Onchocerciasis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E