Identification and characterization of early interleukin (IL)-5/IL-13-producing cells and their inducing factors in experimental pulmonary cryptococcosis

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T helper (Th) 2 cell-responses are associated with protective immunity against parasites. In terms of immunopathology they can be important in diseases like allergy and Asthma bronchiale. In a pulmonary model of infection with the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans Th2 cell-induced immunopathology with typical goblet cell hyperplasia, eosinophilia, bronchconstriction and alternatively activated macrophages was found, too. Early interleukin (IL)-5/-13-producing cells precede the activation of immunopathological Th2 cells. One of the goals of the proposed project is to identify these Th2 cytokine-producing cells in experimental pulmonary cryptococcosis. It is also of interest if recently discovered Th2-associated cytokines (IL-25, IL-33), which are also found in cryptococcosis, regulate the early IL-5/IL-13-producing cells. The obtained results from this project will broaden our knowledge about the interaction of C. neoformans with innate immune cells and the impact of their released mediators on induction of adaptive Th2 responses.