Increased interleukin 4 (IL-4) receptor expression and IL-4-induced decrease in IL-12 production by Langerhans cells infected with Leishmania major.
Langerhans cells (LC) take up Leishmania major and are critical for the induction of the parasite-specific T-cell response. Their functional activities are regulated by cytokines. We analyzed whether infection of LC with L. major modulates the expression of their cytokine receptors. The expression of the interleukin 4 (IL-4) receptor was increased on infected LC from susceptible mice but not on those from resistant mice. Moreover, IL-4 treatment strongly decreased the lipopolysaccharide-induced IL-12 response of infected LC from susceptible mice. This modulation of IL-4 receptor expression and IL-12 production by infection of LC with Leishmania may contribute to the development of Th2 cells and to susceptibility to infection.
Moll
Heidrun
H
Institute for Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases, University of Würzburg, Germany. h.moll@mail.uni-wuerzburg.de
Scharner
Anabel
A
Kämpgen
Eckhart
E
D000818:Animals; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D018320:Leishmania major / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D019948:Receptors, Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D019948:Receptors, Interleukin-4; D018664:Interleukin-12; D015847:Interleukin-4