Korean J Parasitol.  2013 Oct;51(5):589-594.

STAT6 Expression and IL-13 Production in Association with Goblet Cell Hyperplasia and Worm Expulsion of Gymnophalloides seoi from C57BL/6 Mice

• Lee JJ
• Kim D
• Pyo KH
• Kim MK
• Kim HJ
• Chai JY
• Shin EH

Abstract

In intestinal helminth infections, Th2 immune respones are generally associated with mucin secretion for worm expulsion from the host intestine. In particular, IL-4 and IL-13 are the important cytokines related with intestinal mucus production via STAT6 signalling in nematode infections. However, this perspective has never been studied in Gymnophalloides seoi infection. The present study aimed to observe the STAT6 signalling and cytokine responses in C57BL/6 mice, a mouse strain resistant to infection with this trematode. The results showed that worm expulsion occurred actively during days 1-2 post-infection (PI), when goblet cells began to proliferate in the small intestine. The STAT6 gene expression in the mouse spleen became remarkable from day 2 PI. Moreover, G. seoi infection induced a significant increase of IL-13 from day 4 PI in the spleen of infected mice. Our results suggested that goblet cell hyperplasia and worm expulsion in G. seoi-infected mice should be induced by STAT6 signalling, in which IL-13 may be involved as a dominant triggering cytokine.

Keyword

Gymnophalloides seoi; intestinal trematode; goblet cell hyperplasia; worm expulsion; IL-13; STAT6

MeSH Terms

Animals
Crassostrea
Female
Goblet Cells/*pathology
Hyperplasia/pathology
Interleukin-13/*metabolism
Interleukin-4/*metabolism
Intestine, Small/immunology
Metacercariae
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
STAT6 Transcription Factor/*metabolism
Signal Transduction
Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
Spleen/immunology
Trematoda/*immunology
Trichinellosis/*immunology/parasitology
Interleukin-13
Interleukin-4
STAT6 Transcription Factor