Interleukin-18 enhances a Th2 biased response and susceptibility to leishmania mexicana in BALB/c mice

Alexander, J. and Bryson, K.J. and Wei, X. (2008) Interleukin-18 enhances a Th2 biased response and susceptibility to leishmania mexicana in BALB/c mice. Microbes and Infection, 10 (7). pp. 834-839. ISSN 1286-4579 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.micinf.2008.03.009)

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Abstract

Interleukin-18 deficient mice on a BALB/c background display increased resistance to cutaneous infection with Leishmania mexicana, with reduced lesion progression and reduced parasite burdens compared with wild-type mice. Infected IL-18−/− mice had lower antigen specific IgG1 levels and total IgE levels and conversely higher antigen specific IgG2a levels than similarly infected wild-type mice. Splenocytes isolated from infected IL-18−/− mice produced significantly lower levels of antigen induced IL-4 and higher levels of IFN-γ than wild-type animals. Consequently IL-18 during L. mexicana infection of BALB/c mice promotes a Th2 biased response and thereby has a disease exacerbating role.

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