Th2 activities induced during virgin T cell priming in the absence of IL-4, IL-13, and B cells

J Immunol. 2002 Sep 15;169(6):2900-6. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.169.6.2900.

Abstract

Virgin T cells being primed to Th2-inducing or Th1-inducing Ags, respectively, start to synthesize IL-4 or IFN-gamma as they begin to proliferate. Parallel respective induction of B cells to produce gamma1 or gamma2a switch transcripts provides additional evidence of early divergent Th activity. This report concerns the roles of IL-4, IL-13, and B cells in these early events in vivo. Th2 responses were induced in lymph nodes against hapten-protein given s.c. with killed Bordetella pertussis adjuvant. In T cell proliferation in wild-type mice, IL-4 message up-regulation and gamma1 and epsilon switch transcript production were underway 48-72 h after immunization. The absence of IL-4, IL-13, or B cells did not alter the early T cell proliferative response. The gamma1 and epsilon switch transcript production was still induced in the absence of IL-4, IL-13, or both, but at a reduced level, while the dominance of switching to IgG1 in the extrafollicular hapten-specific plasma cell response was retained. The up-regulation of IL-4 message was not reduced or delayed in the absence of B cells and was only marginally reduced by the absence of IL-13. It is concluded that signals delivered by dendritic cells, which are not dependent on the presence of IL-4, IL-13, or B cells, can prime virgin T cells and induce the early Th2 activities studied. These early events that direct virgin T cells toward Th2 differentiation contrast with the critical later role of Th2 cytokines in selectively expanding Th2 clones and driving further IL-4 synthesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes* / cytology
  • B-Lymphocytes* / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes* / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics
  • Cell Differentiation / immunology
  • Chickens
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / immunology
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / metabolism
  • Haptens / administration & dosage
  • Haptens / immunology
  • Immunization / methods
  • Immunoglobulin Class Switching / genetics
  • Immunoglobulin G / biosynthesis
  • Immunoglobulins / deficiency
  • Injections, Subcutaneous
  • Interleukin-13 / deficiency*
  • Interleukin-13 / genetics*
  • Interleukin-4 / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-4 / deficiency*
  • Interleukin-4 / genetics*
  • Lymphocyte Activation / genetics
  • Lymphocyte Cooperation / genetics
  • Lymphopenia / genetics
  • Lymphopenia / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Nitrophenols / administration & dosage
  • Nitrophenols / immunology
  • Phenylacetates
  • Plasma Cells / cytology
  • Plasma Cells / immunology
  • Plasma Cells / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
  • Th1 Cells / immunology
  • Th1 Cells / metabolism
  • Th2 Cells / cytology*
  • Th2 Cells / immunology*
  • Th2 Cells / metabolism
  • Up-Regulation / genetics
  • Up-Regulation / immunology
  • gamma-Globulins / administration & dosage
  • gamma-Globulins / immunology

Substances

  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
  • Haptens
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulins
  • Interleukin-13
  • Nitrophenols
  • Phenylacetates
  • RNA, Messenger
  • gamma-Globulins
  • 4-hydroxy-5-nitrophenyl acetic acid
  • Interleukin-4