IL-22 Mediates Goblet Cell Hyperplasia and Worm Expulsion in Intestinal Helminth Infection

PLoS Pathogens

Helena Helmby¹  Brigitta Stockinger²  Jan-Eric Turner² 

[1] Department of Immunology and Infection, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom;Division of Molecular Immunology, MRC National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London, United Kingdom

关键词: Gastrointestinal tract;    Helminth infections;    Cytokines;    Gastrointestinal infections;    Mucin;    Trichuriasis;    Mouse models;    Small intestine;   

DOI  :  10.1371/journal.ppat.1003698

学科分类：生物科学（综合）

来源: Public Library of Science

【 摘 要 】

Type 2 immune responses are essential in protection against intestinal helminth infections. In this study we show that IL-22, a cytokine important in defence against bacterial infections in the intestinal tract, is also a critical mediator of anti-helminth immunity. After infection with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, a rodent hookworm, IL-22-deficient mice showed impaired worm expulsion despite normal levels of type 2 cytokine production. The impaired worm expulsion correlated with reduced goblet cell hyperplasia and reduced expression of goblet cell markers. We further confirmed our findings in a second nematode model, the murine whipworm Trichuris muris. T.muris infected IL-22-deficient mice had a similar phenotype to that seen in N.brasiliensis infection, with impaired worm expulsion and reduced goblet cell hyperplasia. Ex vivo and in vitro analysis demonstrated that IL-22 is able to directly induce the expression of several goblet cell markers, including mucins. Taken together, our findings reveal that IL-22 plays an important role in goblet cell activation, and thus, a key role in anti-helminth immunity.

【 授权许可】

CC BY