Kupffer cells from Schistosoma mansoni-infected mice participate in the prompt type 2 differentiation of hepatic T cells in response to worm antigens

J Immunol. 1999 Dec 15;163(12):6702-11.

Abstract

Infection with Schistosoma mansoni, a portal vein-residing helminth, is well known to generate life cycle-dependent, systemic immune responses in the host, type 1 deviation during the prepatent period, and type 2 polarization after oviposition. Here we investigated local immunological changes in the liver after infection. Unlike splenocytes, hepatic lymphocytes from infected mice during the prepatent period already produced a higher amount of IL-4 and a lesser amount of IFN-gamma than those from uninfected mice. Hepatic lymphocytes, particularly conventional T cells, but not NK1.1+ T cells, promptly produced IL-4 in response to worm products, soluble worm Ag preparation (SWAP), whenever presented by Kupffer cells from infected mice. The hepatic lymphocytes that had been stimulated with SWAP presented by infected mice-derived Kupffer cells produced a huge amount of IL-4, IL-13, and IL-5 as well as little IFN-gamma in response to immobilized anti-CD3 mAb. Kupffer cells from uninfected mice produced IL-6 and IL-10, but not IL-12 or IL-18, in response to SWAP stimulation and gained the potential to additionally produce IL-4 and IL-13 after the infection. These results suggested that prompt type 2 deviation in the liver after the infection might be due to the alteration of Kupffer cells that induces SWAP-mediated type 2-development of hepatic T cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigen Presentation
  • Antigens, Helminth / immunology*
  • Cell Differentiation / immunology
  • Cytokines / biosynthesis
  • Female
  • Interleukin-4 / biosynthesis
  • Kupffer Cells / immunology*
  • Kupffer Cells / metabolism
  • Kupffer Cells / parasitology
  • Life Cycle Stages / immunology
  • Liver / immunology*
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Liver / parasitology
  • Liver / pathology
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Ovum / growth & development
  • Ovum / immunology
  • Schistosoma mansoni / growth & development
  • Schistosoma mansoni / immunology
  • Schistosomiasis mansoni / immunology*
  • Schistosomiasis mansoni / metabolism
  • Schistosomiasis mansoni / parasitology
  • Schistosomiasis mansoni / pathology*
  • Th2 Cells / immunology*
  • Th2 Cells / metabolism
  • Th2 Cells / parasitology
  • Th2 Cells / pathology*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Antigens, Helminth
  • Cytokines
  • Interleukin-4