Interleukin-9 enhances resistance to the intestinal nematode Trichuris muris.

Abstract

Upon infection with the cecum-dwelling nematode Trichuris muris, the majority of inbred strains of mice launch a Th2-type immune response and in doing so expel the parasite before patency. In contrast, there are a few mouse strains which develop a nonprotective Th1-type response resulting in a chronic infection and the presence of adult worms. Of the Th2 cytokines known to be associated with the resistant phenotype (interleukin-4 [IL-4], IL-5, IL-9, and IL-13), comparatively little is known about the contribution that IL-9 makes towards the protective immune response. In this study we demonstrate that IL-9 is expressed early during the Th2-type response and that its elevation in vivo results in the enhancement of intestinal mastocytosis and the production of both the immunoglobulin E (IgE) and IgG1 isotypes. In addition, elevated IL-9 levels in vivo facilitated the loss of T. muris from the intestine. That IL-9 is important in promoting worm expulsion was also seen following infection of IL-9-transgenic mice, which constitutively overexpress the cytokine. These animals displayed an extremely rapid, but immune mediated, expulsion of the parasite. Also evident in these animals was a pronounced intestinal mastocytosis, which was previously shown by us to be responsible for the expulsion of the related nematode Trichinella spiralis from these animals. Taken together with observations of IL-9 production following infection with other helminths, the results imply that IL-9 contributes to the general mast cell and IgE response characteristic of these infections and, more specifically, enhances resistance to T. muris.

• Authors: H Faulkner, J C Renauld, J Van Snick, R K Grencis
• Journal: Infection and immunity (Infect Immun) Vol. 66 Issue 8 Pg. 3832-40 (Aug 1998) ISSN: 0019-9567 [Print] United States
• PMID: 9673269 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Interleukin-9

Topics

• Animals
• Cell Line
• Female
• Gene Expression
• Immunity, Innate (immunology)
• Interleukin-9 (genetics, immunology)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Mice, Transgenic
• Th2 Cells (immunology)
• Trichuriasis (immunology, metabolism)
• Trichuris (immunology)