1. Nippostrongylus brasiliensis: identification of intelectin-1 and -2 as Stat6-dependent genes expressed in lung and intestine during infection.
- Author
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Voehringer D, Stanley SA, Cox JS, Completo GC, Lowary TL, and Locksley RM
- Subjects
- Animals, Cytokines biosynthesis, Cytokines immunology, Flow Cytometry, GPI-Linked Proteins, Gene Expression, Intestinal Mucosa metabolism, Lectins biosynthesis, Lectins immunology, Lung metabolism, Mice, Mice, Inbred BALB C, Mice, Transgenic, Nippostrongylus immunology, Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction, Strongylida Infections immunology, Strongylida Infections metabolism, Cytokines genetics, Lectins genetics, Nippostrongylus genetics, STAT6 Transcription Factor physiology, Strongylida Infections genetics
- Abstract
Elimination of the helminth parasite Nippostrongylus brasiliensis from infected mice is mediated by IL-4 or IL-13 and dependent on the IL-4Ralpha chain and the transcription factor Stat6 in non-hematopoietic cells. However, it is not clear which Stat6-dependent effector molecules mediate worm expulsion. We identified intelectin-1 and -2 as Stat6-dependent genes that are induced during infection. Intelectins can bind galactofuranose, a sugar present only in microorganisms and might therefore serve as microbial pattern element. To analyze whether constitutive expression of intelectin-1 or -2 leads to accelerated pathogen clearance, transgenic mice were generated which express high levels of these genes selectively in the lung. Infection with N. brasiliensis or Mycobacterium tuberculosis did not result in accelerated pathogen clearance in transgenic as compared to wild-type mice. Further, no significant modulation of the immune response in lung or lymph nodes was observed. Thus, under these conditions, intelectins did not enhance pathogen clearance.
- Published
- 2007
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