Interleukin 4 is important in protective immunity to a gastrointestinal nematode infection in mice

• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS Vol. 88; no. 13; pp. 5513 - 5517
• Main Authors: Urban, J.F. Jr. (Helminthic Diseases Laboratory, ARS, USDA, Beltsville, MD), Katona, I.M, Paul, W.E, Finkelman, F.D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 01-07-1991; National Acad Sciences
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies; Antibodies, Helminth - biosynthesis; Antibodies, Monoclonal - immunology; APPAREIL DIGESTIF; Biological and medical sciences; CELULAS FIBROSAS; Cytokines; EOSINOFILIA; EOSINOPHILIE; Eosinophils; Eosinophils - immunology; FACTEUR IMMUNOLOGIQUE; FACTORES INMUNOLOGICOS; Fecundity; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Gastrointestinal Diseases - immunology; Gastrointestinal Diseases - parasitology; Heligmosomatoidea - immunology; HELIGMOSOMOIDES POLYGYRUS; Immediate hypersensitivity. Allergy. Anaphylaxis, etc; IMMUNITE; Immunity; Immunity, Cellular; Immunobiology; Immunoglobulin E - biosynthesis; IMMUNOGLOBULINE; INFECCIONES POR NEMATODOS; Infections; INMUNIDAD; INMUNOGLOBULINA; Inoculation; Interleukin-4 - physiology; Interleukin-5 - physiology; MASTOCYTE; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Nematode Infections - immunology; NEMATODOSE; Parasite Egg Count; Parasite hosts; RATON; Reaction mechanisms, antibodies, chemical mediators; Receptors, Interleukin-4; Receptors, Mitogen - physiology; SISTEMA DIGESTIVO; SOURIS; SUPERVIVENCIA; SURVIE; Worms; Immunoglobulins; Immune response; Cytokine; IgG; Radial immunodiffusion; Eosinophil; Infection; Interleukin 4; Interleukin 5; Helmintha; Nemathelminthia; Invertebrata; Heligmosomoides polygyrus; Nematoda; Immediate hypersensitivity
• ISSN: 0027-8424; 1091-6490
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.88.13.5513

Parasitic helminths typically induce components of immediate-type hypersensitivity, including elevated serum IgE, eosinophilia, and mucosal mast cells. These responses are T-cell-dependent and associated with rapid expulsion of parasitic worms from a sensitized host; existing experimental systems have failed to define the precise role of cytokines in these responses. We report here that anti-interleukin 4 or anti-interleukin 4 receptor antibodies block the polyclonal IgE response to a parasitic nematode, Heligmosomoides polygyrus, and abrogate protective immunity to the infection. In contrast, anti-interleukin 5 antibody prevented H. polygyrus-induced eosinophilia but did not prevent protection. These data provide evidence that a specific cytokine affects the physiology and survival of a parasitic nematode in the host.