title: Signal transducer and activator of transcription factor 6 signaling contributes to control host lung pathology but favors susceptibility against Toxocara canis infection.
abstract: Using STAT6(-/-) BALB/c mice, we have analyzed the role of STAT6-induced Th2 response in determining the outcome of experimental toxocariasis caused by embryonated eggs of the helminth parasite Toxocara canis. Following T. canis infection wild-type BALB/c mice developed a strong Th2-like response, produced high levels of IgG1, IgE, and IL-4, recruited alternatively activated macrophages, and displayed a moderate pathology in the lungs; however, they harbored heavy parasite loads in different tissues. In contrast, similarly infected STAT6(-/-) BALB/c mice mounted a weak Th2-like response, did not recruit alternatively activated macrophages, displayed a severe pathology in the lungs, but efficiently controlled T. canis infection. These findings demonstrate that Th2-like response induced via STAT6-mediated signaling pathway mediates susceptibility to larval stage of T. canis. Furthermore, they also indicate that unlike most gastrointestinal helminths, immunity against larvae of T. canis is not mediated by a Th2-dominant response.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Biomedicina, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Avenue de los Barrios 1, Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla 54090, MEX, Mexico City, DE, Mexico.
authors.forename: Berenice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Faz-López
authors.forename: Yadira
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ledesma-Soto
authors.forename: Yolanda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Romero-Sánchez
authors.forename: Elsa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Calleja
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martínez-Labat
authors.forename: Luis I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Terrazas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D059208:Parasite Load; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D017166:Toxocara canis; D014120:Toxocariasis / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor; C494100:Stat6 protein, mouse; D007073:Immunoglobulin E