Maintenance of IL-12-responsive CD4+ T cells during a Th2 response in Leishmania major-infected mice

Eur J Immunol. 2000 Jul;30(7):2007-14. doi: 10.1002/1521-4141(200007)30:7<2007::AID-IMMU2007>3.0.CO;2-W.

Abstract

BALB/c and anti-IL-12-treated C3H mice infected with Leishmania major develop a Th2 cell response. However, in contrast to BALB/c mice, C3H mice treated transiently with an anti-IL-12 monoclonal antibody switch from a Th2 to a Th1 response and resolve their lesions once treatment is terminated. We report here that the critical difference in the Th2 response between BALB/c and C3H mice is in their ability to respond to IL-12. Thus, C3H mice with a Th2 response maintain a CD4+ T cell population that expresses IL-12 receptor beta1 and beta2 mRNA and produces IFN-gamma after exposure to IL-12. These results indicate that Th2 cell populations from different genetic backgrounds differ in their stability, and that this difference can be related to differential regulation of the IL-12 receptor.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology
  • Antigens, Protozoan / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Female
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Interleukin-12 / immunology*
  • L-Selectin / immunology
  • Leishmania major / immunology*
  • Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / immunology*
  • Lymph Nodes / cytology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C3H
  • Receptors, Interleukin / genetics
  • Receptors, Interleukin-12
  • Th1 Cells / immunology
  • Th2 Cells / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antigens, Protozoan
  • Il12rb1 protein, mouse
  • Il12rb2 protein, mouse
  • Receptors, Interleukin
  • Receptors, Interleukin-12
  • L-Selectin
  • Interleukin-12