Mycobacterial and schistosomal antigen-elicited granuloma formation in IFN-gamma and IL-4 knockout mice: analysis of local and regional cytokine and chemokine networks

J Immunol. 1997 Oct 1;159(7):3565-73.

Abstract

Type 1 (IFN-gamma/TNF-dominant) and 2 (IL-4/IL-5-dominant) granulomatous inflammation were analyzed in mice with knockout of IFN-gamma or IL-4 genes. Lung granulomas were elicited by beads coated with purified protein derivative (PPD) of Mycobacteria bovis or soluble Schistosoma mansoni egg Ags. Parameters included granuloma size, composition, and macrophage function; white blood cell differentials; lymph node cytokine profiles; and cytokine/chemokine mRNA expression by lungs. Type 1 (PPD) and 2 (soluble Schistosoma mansoni egg Ags) responses showed characteristic cytokine and chemokine profiles in control mice. IFN-gamma knockout converted the PPD response to a type 2-like pattern with eosinophil infiltration and decreased TNF and RANTES, but increased IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, monocyte chemoattractant protein-3 (MCP-3), and eotaxin expression. IL-4 knockout exacerbated type 1 inflammation with increased IL-2/IFN-gamma production by lymph nodes and IL-1 production by granuloma macrophages, but unexpectedly, IFN-gamma transcripts were reduced in lungs. Regarding the type 2 response, IL-4 was needed for maximal blood eosinophilia, but surprisingly, its absence had a minimal effect on type 2 granuloma size and composition despite regional reductions of IL-5 and IL-10 as well as local reductions of TNF-alpha, MCP-1, MCP-3, and eotaxin. Thus, the type 2 granuloma was not converted to a type 1 composition with IL-4 knockout, but showed persistent expression of IL-13 and some degree of IL-5 and MCP-3, suggesting that these cytokines could potentially support a compensatory type 2 response. IFN-gamma knockout did not augment type 2 granuloma size or Th2 cytokines in lymph nodes and unexpectedly reduced IL-4 transcripts in lungs. This study offers important implications regarding inflammation and its relationship to local and regional cytokine expression.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Bacterial / immunology
  • Antigens, Helminth / immunology
  • Chemokines / genetics
  • Chemokines / physiology*
  • Cytokines / genetics
  • Cytokines / physiology*
  • Female
  • Granuloma / classification
  • Granuloma / etiology*
  • Granuloma / immunology*
  • Interferon-gamma / deficiency
  • Interferon-gamma / genetics*
  • Interleukin-1 / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-4 / deficiency
  • Interleukin-4 / genetics*
  • Lung / immunology
  • Lung / pathology
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mycobacterium bovis / immunology*
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
  • Schistosoma mansoni / immunology*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / biosynthesis

Substances

  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Antigens, Helminth
  • Chemokines
  • Cytokines
  • Interleukin-1
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Interleukin-4
  • Interferon-gamma