A study on protective immunity in mice infected with Trichinella spiralis : A new role of IL-3 as Th2 amplifier in immune response to parasite infection

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Cytokine balance is a key factor for the generation of protective immunity and pathology in nematode infections. Infection with Trichinella spiralis elevates Th2 cytokines and IL-3 secretion. Our earlier work showed that (a) IL-3 advanced the timing of adult T.spiralis expulsion ; (b) IL-3 increased both mast cells in the gut and IgE production. IL-4 has been shown to be essential for switching B cells to IgE production. The above data indicate that IL-3 could affect IgE responses by stimulation of T and/or B cell functions during the infection. In the present study we have shown that IL-3 is able to enhance the production of IL-4, and that T cells able to secrete IL-4 are activated and/or induced by in vivo treatment with IL-3. Furthermore, we have analyzed protective immunity and Th2 responses in alymphoplasia mutant mice infected with T.spiralis. It has been demonstrated that alymphoplasia in aly/aly mice is caused by a point mutation in the gene encoding NF (nuclear factor) -κB- inducing kinase which is a central mediator of NF-κB activation in T and B cells. In the present study, we have suggested that aly gene is needed for the induction of protective immunity and Th2 responses in mice infected with T.spiralis.