Abstract |
Rodents infected with the nematode parasite Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (Nb) develop intestinal mastocytosis, eosinophilia, and elevated serum IgE levels. Although IL-4 and IL-5 are necessary for stimulation of IgE synthesis and eosinophilia, respectively, the cytokines that regulate gut mast cell hyperplasia have not been identified. To address this question, 6- to 8-wk-old BALB/c mice were injected on day 0 and day 7 of Nb infection with a rat anti-mouse IL-4 mAb, and with polyclonal sheep (day 0) and rabbit (day 7) anti-mouse IL-3 IgG antibodies. Additional Nb-infected mice received equal doses of isotype- and species-matched control antibodies. Mice were sacrificed on days 12 or 13 post- infection, and mucosal mast cells (MMC) in sections of the small intestine were enumerated. Nb infection induced a 25- to 40-fold increase in MMC over that observed in uninfected controls. Anti-IL-3 or anti-IL-4 alone suppressed the Nb-induced MMC response by 40 to 50%, whereas both antibodies combined suppressed the MMC response by 85 to 90%. Anti-IL-3 alone had no effect on the serum IgE levels, which were essentially abrogated in the Nb-infected mice treated with anti-IL-4. Blood eosinophilia was not affected by treatment with anti-IL-3 and/or anti-IL-4. These studies demonstrate that IL-3 and IL-4 are physiologically important stimuli of mastocytosis in vivo, and suggest therapeutic interventions that may counteract adverse host responses to allergens as well as to parasites.
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Authors | K B Madden, J F Urban Jr, H J Ziltener, J W Schrader, F D Finkelman, I M Katona |
Journal | Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)
(J Immunol)
Vol. 147
Issue 4
Pg. 1387-91
(Aug 15 1991)
ISSN: 0022-1767 [Print] United States |
PMID | 1869831
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S., Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)
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Chemical References |
- Antibodies, Monoclonal
- Interleukin-3
- Interleukin-4
- Immunoglobulin E
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Topics |
- Animals
- Antibodies, Monoclonal
(immunology)
- Female
- Immunoglobulin E
(biosynthesis)
- Interleukin-3
(physiology)
- Interleukin-4
(physiology)
- Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic
(complications, immunology)
- Mast Cells
(immunology)
- Mastocytosis
(prevention & control)
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Nematode Infections
(complications, immunology)
- Nippostrongylus
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