STAT6⁻/⁻ mice exhibit decreased cells with alternatively activated macrophage phenotypes and enhanced disease severity in murine neurocysticercosis.
In this study, using a murine model for neurocysticercosis, macrophage phenotypes and their functions were examined. Mesocestoides corti infection in the central nervous system (CNS) induced expression of markers associated with alternatively activated macrophages (AAMs) and a scarcity of iNOS, a classically activated macrophage marker. The infection in STAT6(-/-) mice resulted in significantly reduced accumulation of AAMs as well as enhanced susceptibility to infection coinciding with increased parasite burden and greater neuropathology. These results demonstrate that macrophages in the helminth infected CNS are largely of AAM phenotypes, particularly as the infection progresses, and that STAT6 dependent responses, possibly involving AAMs, are essential for controlling neurocysticercosis.
Department of Biology, South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX 78249-1644, United States.
Bibhuti B
BB
Mishra
Uma Mahesh
UM
Gundra
Judy M
JM
Teale
D000818:Animals; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D008262:Macrophage Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D020019:Neurocysticercosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D010641:Phenotype; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor; C494100:Stat6 protein, mouse