title: Th2 immune responses and alternatively activated macrophages (AAMacs) in helminth infection in aged mice.
abstract: This study aims to understand Th2 immune responses and alternative macrophage activation against nematode parasites in aged mice. Eighteen-month (18 M) and three-month (3 M) old C3H/HeN mice were inoculated with Heligmosomoides polygyrus (Hp) larvae. Real-time PCR analysis indicated that interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 gene expression was elevated in both groups after infection, but the expression level was significantly low in 18 M mice. Macrophage phenotype was monitored by measuring arginase-1 gene expression and immunofluorescence staining in small intestine, showing a decrease in the number of alternatively activated macrophages (AAMacs) around worm cysts in 18 M mice. These results suggest that the Th2 immune response in aged mice against a nematode parasite was not sufficiently induced to promote AAMacs.
authors.affiliation: School of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Miyagi University, Miyagi, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sugawara
authors.forename: Noritsugu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Azuma
authors.forename: Sachi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Onodera
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tsunoka
authors.forename: Motoko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morimoto
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006369:Heligmosomatoidea; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008262:Macrophage Activation / Q000502:physiology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000145:classification* / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017206:Strongylida Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger