Abstract
The effect of interleukin-4 (IL-4) on the induction of intestinal mast cells and cytokine profiles during Strongyloides ratti infection was studied using IL-4 knockout (IL-4 KO) mice. The antigen-specific proliferative response of mesenteric lymph node cells was not impaired in IL-4 KO mice. The number of intestinal mast cells induced in IL-4 KO mice during S. ratti infection was 2- to 3-fold lower than that observed in WT mice. Intestinal mastocytosis had disappeared in IL-4 KO mice by day 21 postinfection, when significant mastocytosis continued to be observed in WT mice. In mesenteric lymphnode of IL-4 KO, IL-3 production decreased and mice IFN-γ production significantly increased as compared with those of WT mice. The numbers of eggs excreted per gram of feces (EPG) by IL-4 KO mice were greater than those excreted by WT mice on day 6 postinfection, but no difference was observed in the subsequent period. In conclusion, intestinal mast cells are induced during S. ratti infection in the absence of IL-4, and IL-4 is not essential for protection against intestinal adult worms of S. ratti.
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Received: 27 June 2000 / Accepted: 6 July 2000
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Watanabe, K., Hamano, S., Yada, S. et al. The effect of interleukin-4 on the induction of intestinal mast cells and chronological cytokine profiles during intestinal nematode Strongyloides ratti infection. Parasitol Res 87, 149–154 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00008568
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00008568