Trypanosoma congolense infections: MHC class II-restricted immune responses mediate either protection or disease, depending on IL-10 function.
BALB/c mice are highly susceptible and C57BL/6 relatively resistant to Trypanosoma congolense infections. Here we show that relatively resistant wild-type B6 mice infected with T. congolense survive significantly longer (> 200 days) than infected major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-deficient B6 mice (approximately 50 days). We also show that blocking of the interleukin-10 (IL-10) receptor induces early death of wild-type B6 mice infected with T. congolense (approximately 10 days), but does not affect the survival of infected MHC class II-deficient B6 mice. We conclude that MHC class II-restricted immune responses mediate protection and, when IL-10 function is impaired, MHC class II-restricted immune responses mediate early mortality in otherwise resistant B6 mice. Thus, in T. congolense infections, MHC class II-restricted immune responses mediate either protection or disease, depending on IL-10 function.
Shi
M Q
MQ
Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
Wei
G J
GJ
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D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D005260:Female; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D014348:Trypanosoma congolense / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014353:Trypanosomiasis, African / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000469:parasitology
D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D016753:Interleukin-10