Basophil-mediated protection against gastrointestinal helminths requires IgE-induced cytokine secretion
Year: 2014
Type: article
Abstract: Basophils orchestrate protection against reinfections with gastrointestinal helminths and ticks, but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. We investigated the role of Fc receptors on basophils, the antibody isotypes IgG1 and IgE, and basophil-derived IL-4/IL-13 during challenge infections with Heligmosomoides polygyrus and Nippostrongylus brasiliensis. Using mixed bone marrow chimeras, we found that activating Fc receptors on basophils were required for protective immunity but not for regulation of basophil homeostasis. Furthermore, rapid worm expulsion was impaired in IgE-deficient but not in IgG1-deficient mice. Basophils promoted the recruitment of other effector cells into the small intestine and induced expression of the antihelminthic proteins resistin-like molecule β and mucin 5ac. Selective deletion of IL-4/IL-13 in basophils resulted in impaired worm expulsion. Collectively, our results indicate that IgE-mediated activation of basophils and the release of basophil-derived IL-4/IL-13 are critical steps in protective immunity against helminths. Therefore, development of effective vaccines against helminths should consider boosting the IL-4/IgE/basophil axis of the immune system.
Authors: Christian Schwartz, Adriana Turqueti-Neves, Susanne Hartmann, Philipp Yu, Falk Nimmerjahn, David Voehringer
Language: English
Subfield: Parasitology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1991012007