Unique T Cells with Unconventional Cytokine Profiles Induced in the Livers of Mice during Schistosoma mansoni Infection |
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| Authors: | Keishi Adachi Yoshio Osada Risa Nakamura Koji Tamada Shinjiro Hamano |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.; 2. Global Center of Excellence Program, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.; 3. Department of Immunology and Parasitology, The University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu, Japan.; 4. Department of Immunology and Cell Signaling Analysis, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Japan.; Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil, |
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| Abstract: | During infection with Schistosoma, serious hepatic disorders are induced in the host. The liver possesses unique immune systems composed of specialized cells that differ from those of other immune competent organs or tissues. Host immune responses change dramatically during Schistosoma mansoni infection; in the early phase, Th1-related responses are induced, whereas during the late phase Th2 reactions dominate. Here, we describe unique T cell populations induced in the liver of mice during the period between Th1- and Th2-phases, which we term the transition phase. During this phase, varieties of immune cells including T lymphocytes increase in the liver. Subsets of CD4+ T cells exhibit unique cytokine production profiles, simultaneously producing both IFN-γ and IL-13 or both IFN-γ and IL-4. Furthermore, cells triply positive for IFN-γ, IL-13 and IL-4 also expand in the S. mansoni-infected liver. The induction of these unique cell populations does not occur in the spleen, indicating it is a phenomenon specific to the liver. In single hepatic CD4+ T cells showing the unique cytokine profiles, both T-bet and GATA-3 are expressed. Thus, our studies show that S. mansoni infection triggers the induction of hepatic T cell subsets with unique cytokine profiles. |
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