title: NK1.1+ cell depletion in vivo fails to prevent protection against infection with the murine nematode parasite Trichuris muris.
abstract: Protection against the murine nematode parasite Trichuris muris has been shown to involve interleukin 4 (IL-4). NK1.1+ T cell receptor alphabeta+ cells, designated Natural Killer T (NKT) cells, produce a large amount of IL-4 in response to anti-CD3 stimulation and numerous pieces of evidence suggest that NKT cells provide the initial source of IL-4 for T helper 2 (Th2) priming. These observations allow the hypothesis that NKT cells produce a large amount of IL-4 in response to T. muris infection and augment Th2 responses and IL-4 production, thus achieving protection against T. muris. To investigate the involvement of NKT cells in protection against T. muris infection, NK1.1+ cell-depleted B10.BR mice were prepared by anti-NK1.1 monoclonal antibody injection. Efficient expulsion of T. muris worms occurred in NK1.1+ cell-depleted infected mice, and the expulsion kinetics of T. muris worms, the levels of IL-4 production by mesenteric lymph node cells, and the kinetics of the specific IgG1 and IgG2a responses to T. muris were similar to those in mouse IgG-treated or non-treated control B10.BR mice. These observations suggest that NK1.1+ cells and NKT cells are not involved in the induction of Th2 responses and protective immunity to T. muris infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Kitasato, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan. koyama@kitasato-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koyama
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000941:Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D000950:Antigens, Ly; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000032:analysis; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D008212:Lymphocyte Depletion; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains / Q000469:parasitology; D055651:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014257:Trichuriasis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014258:Trichuris / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000941:Antigens; D000950:Antigens, Ly; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; C527211:Klrb1c protein, mouse; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D055651:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B; D011506:Proteins; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma