Nippostrongylus brasiliensis: identification of intelectin-1 and -2 as Stat6-dependent genes expressed in lung and intestine during infection.
Elimination of the helminth parasite Nippostrongylus brasiliensis from infected mice is mediated by IL-4 or IL-13 and dependent on the IL-4Ralpha chain and the transcription factor Stat6 in non-hematopoietic cells. However, it is not clear which Stat6-dependent effector molecules mediate worm expulsion. We identified intelectin-1 and -2 as Stat6-dependent genes that are induced during infection. Intelectins can bind galactofuranose, a sugar present only in microorganisms and might therefore serve as microbial pattern element. To analyze whether constitutive expression of intelectin-1 or -2 leads to accelerated pathogen clearance, transgenic mice were generated which express high levels of these genes selectively in the lung. Infection with N. brasiliensis or Mycobacterium tuberculosis did not result in accelerated pathogen clearance in transgenic as compared to wild-type mice. Further, no significant modulation of the immune response in lung or lymph nodes was observed. Thus, under these conditions, intelectins did not enhance pathogen clearance.
Voehringer
David
D
Department of Medicine and Microbiology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
Stanley
Sarah A
SA
Cox
Jeffery S
JS
Completo
Gladys C
GC
Lowary
Todd L
TL
Locksley
Richard M
RM
D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D015870:Gene Expression; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D037102:Lectins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009559:Nippostrongylus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor / Q000502:physiology*; D017206:Strongylida Infections / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D016207:Cytokines; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; C432397:ITLN1 protein, human; C115657:Itlnb protein, mouse; D037102:Lectins; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor