| First Author | Silva EM | Year | 2005 |
| Journal | J Immunol | Volume | 174 |
| Issue | 10 | Pages | 6314-21 |
| PubMed ID | 15879131 | Mgi Jnum | J:99046 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3580999 | Doi | 10.4049/jimmunol.174.10.6314 |
| Citation | Silva EM, et al. (2005) Caspase-8 activity prevents type 2 cytokine responses and is required for protective T cell-mediated immunity against Trypanosoma cruzi infection. J Immunol 174(10):6314-21 |
| abstractText | During Trypanosoma cruzi infection, T cells up-regulate caspase-8 activity. To assess the role of caspase-8 in T cell-mediated immunity, we investigated the effects of caspase-8 inhibition on T cells in viral FLIP (v-FLIP) transgenic mice. Compared with wild-type controls, increased parasitemia was observed in v-FLIP mice infected with T. cruzi. There was a profound decrease in expansion of both CD4 and CD8 T cell subsets in the spleens of infected v-FLIP mice. We did not find differences in activation ratios of T cells from transgenic or wild-type infected mice. However, the numbers of memory/activated CD4 and CD8 T cells were markedly reduced in v-FLIP mice, possibly due to defective survival. We also found decreased production of IL-2 and increased secretion of type 2 cytokines, IL-4 and IL-10, which could enhance susceptibility to infection. Similar, but less pronounced, alterations were observed in mice treated with the caspase-8 inhibitor, zIETD. Furthermore, blockade of caspase-8 by zIETD in vitro mimicked the effects observed on T. cruzi infection in vivo, affecting the generation of activated/memory T cells and T cell cytokine production. Caspase-8 is also required for NF-kappaB signaling upon T cell activation. Blockade of caspase-8 by either v-FLIP expression or treatment with zIETD peptide decreased NF-kappaB responses to TCR:CD3 engagement in T cell cultures. These results suggest a critical role for caspase-8 in the establishment of T cell memory, cell signaling, and regulation of cytokine responses during protozoan infection. |
