title: Interleukin-6 expression in gut of parasite challenged sheep.
abstract: Following challenge with Trichosirongylus colubrifonizis, increased numbers of T-cells and immunoglobulin responses are seen in the intestine of sheep immunised by repeated infection with live worms. IL-6 mRNA expression in the small intestine from T. colubriformis-immunised and naive sheep was determined by in situ hybridisation, whereas CD4(+), IgA(+), IgG(+) cells in the gut were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. There was constitutive expression of IL-6 mRNA by cells in the naive gut, and the number of these cells was increased by parasite challenge. There were corresponding increases in numbers of CD4(+) and TCR gamma/delta(+) T-cells and IgG(+) B-cells. Our data are consistent with a role for IL-6, perhaps produced by CD4(+) and/or TCR gamma/delta(+) T-cells or B-cells, in B-cell terminal differentiation. Infiltration of B-cells, particularly IgG(+) B-cells, may reflect parasite immunity in the host.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Pathology, University of Sydney, Sydney NSW 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: McClure
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Emery
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Husband
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology*; D014253:Trichostrongylosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D014254:Trichostrongylus
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D012333:RNA, Messenger