Genetic analysis of basophil function in vivo

Nat Immunol. 2011 Jun;12(6):527-35. doi: 10.1038/ni.2036. Epub 2011 May 8.

Abstract

Contributions by basophils to allergic and helminth immunity remain incompletely defined. Using sensitive interleukin 4 (Il4) reporter alleles, we demonstrate here that basophil IL-4 production occurs by a CD4(+) T cell-dependent process restricted to the peripheral tissues affected. We genetically marked and achieved specific deletion of basophils and found that basophils did not mediate T helper type 2 (T(H)2) priming in vivo. Two-photon imaging confirmed that basophils did not interact with antigen-specific T cells in lymph nodes but engaged in prolonged serial interactions with T cells in lung tissues. Although targeted deletion of IL-4 and IL-13 in either CD4(+) T cells or basophils had a minimal effect on worm clearance, deletion from both lineages demonstrated a nonredundant role for basophil cytokines in primary helminth immunity.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Basophils / immunology*
  • Basophils / metabolism
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism
  • Helminthiasis, Animal / immunology
  • Helminthiasis, Animal / metabolism
  • Helminthiasis, Animal / parasitology
  • Host-Parasite Interactions / immunology
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-13 / genetics
  • Interleukin-13 / immunology
  • Interleukin-13 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-4 / genetics
  • Interleukin-4 / immunology*
  • Interleukin-4 / metabolism
  • Liver / immunology
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Liver / parasitology
  • Lung / immunology*
  • Lung / metabolism
  • Lung / parasitology
  • Lung Diseases, Parasitic / immunology
  • Lung Diseases, Parasitic / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence, Multiphoton
  • Nippostrongylus / immunology
  • Nippostrongylus / physiology
  • Schistosoma mansoni / immunology
  • Schistosoma mansoni / physiology
  • Strongylida Infections / immunology*
  • Strongylida Infections / metabolism
  • Strongylida Infections / parasitology

Substances

  • Interleukin-13
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Interleukin-4