CD4+ T-cell localization to the large intestinal mucosa during Trichuris muris infection is mediated by G alpha i-coupled receptors but is CCR6- and CXCR3-independent

Immunology. 2010 Feb;129(2):257-67. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2567.2009.03178.x. Epub 2009 Sep 9.

Abstract

Infection of mice with the gastrointestinal nematode Trichuris muris represents a valuable tool to investigate and dissect intestinal immune responses. Resistant mouse strains respond to T. muris infection by mounting a T helper type 2 response. Previous results have shown that CD4(+) T cells play a critical role in protective immunity, and that CD4(+) T cells localize to the infected large intestinal mucosa to confer protection. Further, transfer of CD4(+) T cells from immune mice to immunodeficient SCID mice can prevent the development of a chronic infection. In the current study, we characterize the protective CD4(+) T cells, describe their chemokine receptor expression and explore the functional significance of these receptors in recruitment to the large intestinal mucosa post-T. muris infection. We show that the ability to mediate expulsion resides within a subpopulation of CD4(+) T cells marked by down-regulation of CD62L. These cells can be isolated from intestine-draining mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) from day 14 post-infection, but are rare or absent in MLN before this and in spleen at all times post-infection. Among CD4(+) CD62L(low) MLN cells, the two most abundantly expressed chemokine receptors were CCR6 and CXCR3. We demonstrate for the first time that CD4(+) CD62L(low) T-cell migration to the large intestinal mucosa is dependent on the family of G alpha(i)-coupled receptors, to which chemokine receptors belong. CCR6 and CXCR3 were however dispensable for this process because neutralization of CCR6 and CXCR3 did not prevent CD4(+) CD62L(low) cell migration to the large intestinal mucosa during T. muris infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adoptive Transfer
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Blocking / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / parasitology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cell Movement / immunology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits / immunology
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits / metabolism*
  • Immunity, Mucosal* / drug effects
  • Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism*
  • Intestinal Mucosa / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, SCID
  • Pertussis Toxin / pharmacology
  • Receptors, CCR6 / metabolism
  • Receptors, CXCR3 / metabolism
  • Trichuriasis / immunology*
  • Trichuriasis / pathology
  • Trichuris / immunology*
  • Trichuris / pathogenicity

Substances

  • Antibodies, Blocking
  • CCR6 protein, mouse
  • Cxcr3 protein, mouse
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits
  • Receptors, CCR6
  • Receptors, CXCR3
  • Pertussis Toxin