MHC class II-dependent basophil-CD4+ T cell interactions promote T(H)2 cytokine-dependent immunity

Nat Immunol. 2009 Jul;10(7):697-705. doi: 10.1038/ni.1740. Epub 2009 May 24.

Abstract

Dendritic cells can prime naive CD4+ T cells; however, here we demonstrate that dendritic cell-mediated priming was insufficient for the development of T helper type 2 cell-dependent immunity. We identify basophils as a dominant cell population that coexpressed major histocompatibility complex class II and interleukin 4 message after helminth infection. Basophilia was promoted by thymic stromal lymphopoietin, and depletion of basophils impaired immunity to helminth infection. Basophils promoted antigen-specific CD4+ T cell proliferation and interleukin 4 production in vitro, and transfer of basophils augmented the population expansion of helminth-responsive CD4+ T cells in vivo. Collectively, our studies suggest that major histocompatibility complex class II-dependent interactions between basophils and CD4+ T cells promote T helper type 2 cytokine responses and immunity to helminth infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Basophils / cytology
  • Basophils / immunology*
  • Basophils / metabolism
  • CD11c Antigen / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cell Communication / immunology
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cytokines / immunology*
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Gene Expression
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / genetics
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / immunology*
  • Immunity / immunology*
  • Immunoblotting
  • Interleukin-4 / genetics
  • Interleukin-4 / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Inbred Strains
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Schistosomiasis mansoni / immunology
  • Schistosomiasis mansoni / parasitology
  • Th2 Cells / metabolism
  • Thymus Gland / cytology
  • Thymus Gland / immunology
  • Trichuriasis / immunology
  • Trichuriasis / parasitology

Substances

  • CD11c Antigen
  • Cytokines
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II
  • Interleukin-4