title: Interleukin 1 plays a major role in the development of Th2-mediated immunity.
abstract: Expulsion of the gastrointestinal nematode Trichuris muris is mediated by a T helper (Th)2-type response, involving interleukin (IL)-4, IL-9 and IL-13. Here, we show that Th2 response-associated resistance is dependent on the presence of IL-1alpha and IL-1beta. When lymph node cells from naive IL-1alpha- or IL-1beta-deficient mice were subjected to Th2 polarization in vitro, they failed to polarize in the presence of IL-4 alone, but required the addition of exogenous IL-1alpha or IL-1beta. Furthermore, we demonstrate that both IL-1alpha- and IL-1beta-deficient mice are susceptible to chronic T. muris infection and that the inability to expel the worms is associated with a defect in the development of a Th2 response in the mesenteric lymph nodes. These results provide the first demonstration of the critical role of IL-1 in regulating Th2 responses during gastrointestinal nematode infection.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Helmby
authors.forename: Richard K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Grencis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014257:Trichuriasis / Q000276:immunology; D014258:Trichuris / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007375:Interleukin-1; D012333:RNA, Messenger