Mice deficient in nuclear factor of activated T-cell transcription factor c2 mount increased Th2 responses after infection with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis and decreased Th1 responses after mycobacterial infection.
Infection of nuclear factor of activated T-cell transcription factor c2 (NFATc2)-deficient mice with the helminth Nippostrongylus brasiliensis led to a distinct increase in interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-5 protein synthesis by lymph node and spleen cells and to elevated serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels in comparison to those seen with infected control mice. While IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 mRNA expression was also enhanced in lymph node cells from the lungs of infected NFATc2(-/-) mice, the number of T cells secreting Th2-type lymphokines remained the same in mice infected with N. brasiliensis. In contrast, lymphocytes from NFATc2-deficient mice infected with Mycobacterium bovis BCG secreted less gamma interferon than lymphocytes from infected control mice. These findings indicate that NFATc2 is an activator of Th1 responses and a suppressor of Th2 responses in vivo.
Department of Molecular Pathology, Institute of Pathology, University of Wuerzburg, D-97080 Wuerzburg, Germany. klaus.erb@mail.uni-wuerzburg.de
Klaus J
KJ
Erb
Thomas
T
Twardzik
Alois
A
Palmetshofer
Gisela
G
Wohlleben
Ursula
U
Tatsch
Edgar
E
Serfling
D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009163:Mycobacterium bovis; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D009559:Nippostrongylus; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D017206:Strongylida Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D015848:Interleukin-5; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; C494007:Nfatc2 protein, mouse; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma