Accelerated clearance of Onchocerca microfilariae and resistance to reinfection in interleukin-4 gene knockout mice.
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.
Hogarth
P J
PJ
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK.
Folkard
S G
SG
Taylor
M J
MJ
Bianco
A E
AE
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
D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E