The biological effects induced in mice by p36, a proteinaceous factor of virulence produced by African swine fever virus, are mediated by interleukin-4 and also to a lesser extent by interleukin-10.
We have previously presented indirect evidence that both specific immunosuppression and lymphocyte mitogenicity induced in mice by p36, a proteinaceous factor of virulence produced by porcine monocytes infected by African swine fever virus, were consistent with a Th2-driven response. Here we show: (1) Interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) mRNA expression in the spleen and thymus of C57BL/6 mice were displayed early after p36 inoculation. The expression of thymic IL-10 mRNA occurred, however, later than that of IL-4 mRNA. (2) Increased serum levels of these two cytokines were also soon detected after the protein inoculation. (3) Both immunosuppressive and mitogenic effects of p36 were absent in IL-4 gene-targeted mice and partially abrogated in mice depleted of IL-4 by neutralizing monoclonal antibodies. (4) IL-10 depletion abrogated the immunosuppressive but not the p36 lymphocyte mitogenic biological effects. (5) The increase in the serum concentrations of both IL-4 and IL-10 were lower in thymectomized than in non-thymectomized mice. (6) The expression of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) mRNA was weakly or not at all induced in p36-treated mice. Taken together, these results are in agreement with the promotion of a Th2 immune response induced by p36.
Vilanova
M
M
Department of Immunology, Institute for Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, Porto and Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology, Porto, Portugal.
Ferreira
P
P
Ribeiro
A
A
Arala-Chaves
M
M
D000358:African Swine Fever Virus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D000818:Animals; D017306:Annexin A2 / Q000276:immunology*; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000378:metabolism; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000276:immunology*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000276:immunology*; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008938:Mitosis / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology; D014774:Virulence; D000099192:CD69 Antigens
D017306:Annexin A2; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D000099192:CD69 Antigens