The Journal of Immunology · 1997 · 284 citations · 0 references
Life SciencesImmunologyInfectious DiseasesImmunopathologyInflammationInnate ImmunityHelminth ImmunologyImmune RegulationImmunopathology Of Parasitic DiseaseImmunoregulation In Parasitic InfectionMacrophage BiologyParasitic Disease PathogenesisHost-parasite ImmunityImmunopathology Of SchistosomiasisNitric OxidePathogenesis Of SchistosomiasisSchistosomiasis ImmunoregulationSchistosomiasis PathologyTh2 Immune ResponseType 2 Immunity
To examine the role of the Th2-type response during schistosomiasis mansoni we compared disease progression in wild type (wt), and Th2-response deficient IL-4(-/-) mice. Whereas wt C57BL/6 mice tolerate infection and develop chronic disease, IL-4(-/-) C57BL/6 animals are highly susceptible, exhibiting severe acute cachexia followed by death. Data point toward morbidity in the IL-4(-/-) C57BL/6 mice being mediated by TNF-alpha, possibly through the uncontrolled production of nitric oxide in target organs such as the ileum. We propose that IL-4 prevents severe disease during schistosomiasis by regulating macrophage activation.