Eosinophils act as antigen-presenting cells to induce immunity to Strongyloides stercoralis in mice

J Infect Dis. 2007 Dec 15;196(12):1844-51. doi: 10.1086/522968.

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to explore the ability of eosinophils to present Strongyloides stercoralis antigen in naive and immunized mice. Antigen-pulsed eosinophils were injected intraperitoneally into naive or immunized mice, and then mice were examined for antigen-specific immune responses. A single inoculation of antigen-pulsed eosinophils was sufficient to prime naive mice and to boost immunized mice for antigen-specific T helper cell type 2 (Th2) immune responses with increased interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5 production. Mice inoculated 3 times with live eosinophils pulsed with antigen showed significant increases in parasite antigen-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) M and IgG levels in their serum. Antigen-pulsed eosinophils deficient in major histocompatibility complex class II molecules or antigen-pulsed dead eosinophils failed to induce immune responses, thereby demonstrating the requirement for direct interaction between eosinophils and T cells. These experiments demonstrate that eosinophils function as antigen-presenting cells for the induction of the primary and the expansion of the secondary Th2 immune responses to S. stercoralis in mice.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigen-Presenting Cells / immunology*
  • Eosinophils / immunology*
  • Genes, MHC Class II
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin M / immunology
  • Immunologic Memory
  • Injections, Intraperitoneal / methods
  • Interleukin-5 / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Spleen / cytology
  • Spleen / immunology
  • Spleen / parasitology
  • Strongyloides stercoralis / immunology*
  • Strongyloidiasis / immunology*
  • Strongyloidiasis / parasitology
  • Th2 Cells / immunology

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Interleukin-5