Type 2 immunity reflects orchestrated recruitment of cells committed to IL-4 production

Immunity. 2004 Mar;20(3):267-77. doi: 10.1016/s1074-7613(04)00026-3.

Abstract

Using IL-4 reporter mice we identified eosinophils, basophils, and Th2 cells as the three IL-4-producing cell types that appear in the lungs of mice infected with the migrating intestinal helminth, Nippostrongylus brasiliensis. Eosinophils were most prevalent, peaking by approximately 1000-fold on day 9 after infection, with Th2 cells and basophils at 3- and 10-fold lower numbers, respectively. Eosinophil and basophil expansion in blood in response to parasites and their capacity for IL-4 expression required neither Stat6 nor T cells. Th2 induction and expansion in draining lymph nodes was also Stat6 independent. In contrast, eosinophil (and Th2 cell) recruitment to the lung was dependent on Stat6 expression by a bone marrow-derived tissue resident cell, whereas basophil recruitment was Stat6 and IL-4/IL-13 independent but T cell dependent. Primary type 2 immune responses in the lung represent the focal recruitment and activation of discrete cell populations from the blood that have previously committed to express IL-4.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Basophils / cytology
  • Basophils / immunology
  • Cell Movement*
  • Eosinophils / cytology
  • Eosinophils / immunology
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Inflammation / immunology
  • Interleukin-4 / biosynthesis*
  • Interleukin-4 / genetics
  • Luminescent Proteins / analysis
  • Luminescent Proteins / genetics
  • Lung / cytology
  • Lung / immunology*
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Mutant Strains
  • Models, Immunological
  • Nippostrongylus
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • STAT6 Transcription Factor
  • Strongylida Infections / immunology
  • Th2 Cells / immunology*
  • Trans-Activators / physiology

Substances

  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • STAT6 Transcription Factor
  • Stat6 protein, mouse
  • Trans-Activators
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Interleukin-4