B cells are required for the induction of intestinal inflammatory lesions in TCRalpha-deficient mice persistently infected with Cryptosporidium parvum.
Mice with targeted disruptions in the T-cell receptor alpha gene (TCRalpha-/-) spontaneously develop inflammatory intestinal lesions with extensive B-cell lamina propria infiltrates. Cryptosporidium parvum infection accelerates intestinal lesion formation in TCRalpha-/- mice. In the present study, TCRalpha-/- mice were crossed with JH-/- (B-cell-deficient) mice and challenged with C. parvum to determine if B cells are required for intestinal lesion development. TCRalpha-/- x JH-/- mice challenged with C. parvum, either as neonates or adults, became persistently infected, whereas TCRalpha-/+ x JH-/+ heterozygote control mice cleared the parasite. Cryptosporidium parvum colonization of TCRalpha-/- x JH-/- mice was heaviest in the distal ileum, with fewer parasites detected in the cecum and distal colon. Despite persistent infection, TCRalpha-/- x JH-/- mice did not develop inflammatory or hyperplastic intestinal lesions as detected in C. parvum-infected TCRalpha-/- mice. These findings demonstrate that B cells are a necessary component for the development of inflammatory intestinal lesions of C. parvum-infected TCRalpha-/- mice.
Waters
W R
WR
Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Iowa State University, Ames 50011-1240, USA.
Palmer
M V
MV
Wannemuehler
M J
MJ
Sacco
R E
RE
Harp
J A
JA
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002417:Cattle; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology*; D016785:Cryptosporidium parvum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D018390:Gene Targeting; D019673:Genes, T-Cell Receptor alpha; D007249:Inflammation; D007422:Intestines / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta