TH1-dominant granulomatous pathology does not inhibit fibrosis or cause lethality during murine schistosomiasis

Am J Pathol. 2006 Nov;169(5):1701-12. doi: 10.2353/ajpath.2006.060346.

Abstract

Schistosoma mansoni egg-induced inflammation is accompanied by TH2 cell polarization and development of fibrotic granulomas in host tissue. The interleukin (IL)-4 receptor alpha (IL-4Ralpha), which mediates IL-4 and IL-13 signaling, is essential for granulomatous pathology through a putative CD4+ T-cell-dependent mechanism. In this study, we asked whether CD4+ T-cell-specific IL-4Ralpha-deficient mice (Lck(Cre)IL-4Ralpha(-/lox)) developed granulomas and egg-driven collagen production. Although eosinophilia and goblet cell hyperplasia were impaired in Lck(Cre)IL-4Ralpha(-/lox) mice, there was no reduction in size or collagen content of lung and liver granulomas. The lack of CD4+ T-cell IL-4Ralpha expression caused significant increases in interferon-gamma-producing cells, inducible nitric-oxide synthetase production, and hepatic damage, compared with similarly infected wild-type mice. Interestingly, this TH1-associated liver injury did not lead to premature mortality in this strain. Instead, lower levels of serum endotoxin in Lck(Cre)IL-4Ralpha(-/lox) mice suggest that intestinal barrier function may be the dominant factor for survival during natural infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens
  • Collagen / metabolism
  • Eosinophils / parasitology
  • Fibrosis / immunology
  • Fibrosis / pathology
  • Gastrointestinal Tract / parasitology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
  • Goblet Cells / parasitology
  • Granuloma / immunology*
  • Granuloma / pathology*
  • Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis
  • Liver / cytology
  • Liver / parasitology
  • Liver / pathology*
  • Lung / parasitology
  • Lung / pathology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / genetics
  • Ovum
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Receptors, Interleukin-4 / deficiency
  • Schistosoma mansoni / physiology
  • Schistosomiasis / immunology*
  • Schistosomiasis / pathology*
  • Survival Analysis
  • Th1 Cells / immunology*

Substances

  • Antigens
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, Interleukin-4
  • Interferon-gamma
  • Collagen
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II