Interleukin-5 Mediates Parasite-Induced Protection against Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis: Association with Induction of Antigen-Specific CD4+CD25+ T Regulatory Cells

Abstract

The results of this study suggested that IL-5 produced by the type-2 inflammatory response to parasite infection promoted induction of autoantigen-specific CD25⁺<i>Il5ra</i>⁺ T regulatory cells that reduced the severity of autoimmunity. Such a mechanism may explain the protective effect of parasite infection in patients with multiple sclerosis where eosinophilia is induced by IL-5, produced by the immune response to parasites.