Resistance to Encephalitozoon intestinalis is associated with interferon-gamma and interleukin-2 cytokines in infected mice.
The understanding of the immunopathology of infections caused by microsporidia has pinpointed the importance of T cell-mediated immunity. The immunopathology caused by the interesting protozoan parasite Encephalitozoon intestinalis, a microsporidium pathogenic in man, is not clearly understood. In this study, we demonstrate that a specific cellular immune response is implicated in the control of microsporidiosis infection in mice. Interferon (IFN)-gamma receptor knockout mice (IFN-gamma R(o/o)) developed a chronic infection with E. intestinalis, whereas a transient infection developed in wild-type mice. Encephalitozoon intestinalis proteins induced proliferation of murine spleen and mesenteric lymph node cells collected from infected mice. The host response to microsporidia infection was regulated by a specific pattern of cytokine protection. Spleen cells derived from resistant 129 Sv/Ev mice inoculated with E. intestinalis secreted significant levels of gamma-interferon and interleukin-2 but cells from highly susceptible IFN-gamma R knockout mice secreted high levels of interleukin-4 (mostly between 2 and 4 weeks post infection). This is the first report in which a specific cellular immune response against E. intestinalis infection is presented.
El Fakhry
Y
Y
INSERM U511, Immunobiologie Cellulaire et Moleculaire des Infections Parasitaires, Faculté de Médecine Pitié-Salpêtriere, Paris, France. youssef.el_fakhry@crchul.ulaval.ca
Achbarou
A
A
Desportes
I
I
Mazier
D
D
D000818:Animals; D016819:Encephalitozoon / Q000276:immunology*; D016890:Encephalitozoonosis / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000502:physiology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000502:physiology*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D011817:Rabbits; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology
D007376:Interleukin-2; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma