The pathogenesis of schistosomiasis is controlled by cooperating IL-10-producing innate effector and regulatory T cells

J Immunol. 2004 Mar 1;172(5):3157-66. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.172.5.3157.

Abstract

IL-10 reduces immunopathology in many persistent infections, yet the contribution of IL-10 from distinct cellular sources remains poorly defined. We generated IL-10/recombination-activating gene (RAG)2-deficient mice and dissected the role of T cell- and non-T cell-derived IL-10 in schistosomiasis by performing adoptive transfers. In this study, we show that IL-10 is generated by both the innate and adaptive immune response following infection, with both sources regulating the development of type-2 immunity, immune-mediated pathology, and survival of the infected host. Importantly, most of the CD4(+) T cell-produced IL-10 was confined to a subset of T cells expressing CD25. These cells were isolated from egg-induced granulomas and exhibited potent suppressive activity in vitro. Nevertheless, when naive, naturally occurring CD4(+)CD25(+) cells were depleted in adoptive transfers, recipient IL-10/RAG2-deficient animals were more susceptible than RAG2-deficient mice, confirming an additional host-protective role for non-T cell-derived IL-10. Thus, innate effectors and regulatory T cells producing IL-10 cooperate to reduce morbidity and prolong survival in schistosomiasis.

MeSH terms

  • Adoptive Transfer
  • Animals
  • Antigens, Helminth / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / transplantation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cytokines / biosynthesis
  • Female
  • Immunity, Innate / genetics
  • Interleukin-10 / biosynthesis*
  • Interleukin-10 / deficiency
  • Interleukin-10 / genetics
  • Liver / immunology
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver Diseases, Parasitic / immunology
  • Liver Diseases, Parasitic / pathology
  • Liver Diseases, Parasitic / prevention & control
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Morbidity
  • Ovum / immunology
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2 / biosynthesis
  • Schistosomiasis mansoni / genetics
  • Schistosomiasis mansoni / immunology*
  • Schistosomiasis mansoni / mortality
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / metabolism*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / metabolism*
  • Th2 Cells / immunology
  • Th2 Cells / metabolism

Substances

  • Antigens, Helminth
  • Cytokines
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2
  • Interleukin-10