First Author | Biedermann T | Year | 2001 |
Journal | Nat Immunol | Volume | 2 |
Issue | 11 | Pages | 1054-60 |
PubMed ID | 11600887 | Mgi Jnum | J:72652 |
Mgi Id | MGI:2153365 | Doi | 10.1038/ni725 |
Citation | Biedermann T, et al. (2001) IL-4 instructs TH1 responses and resistance to Leishmania major in susceptible BALB/c mice. Nat Immunol 2(11):1054-60 |
abstractText | Immunity to infection with intracellular pathogens is regulated by interleukin 12 (IL-12), which mediates protective T helper type 1 (TH1) responses, or IL-4, which induces TH2 cells and susceptibility. Paradoxically, we show here that when present during the initial activation of dendritic cells (DCs) by infectious agents, IL-4 instructed DCs to produce IL-12 and promote TH1 development. This TH1 response established resistance to Leishmania major in susceptible BALB/c mice. When present later, during the period of T cell priming, IL-4 induced TH2 differentiation and progressive leishmaniasis in resistant mice. Because immune responses developed via the consecutive activation of DCs and then T cells, the contrasting effects of IL-4 on DC development and T cell differentiation led to immune responses that had opposing functional phenotypes. |