Modulation of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell function and cytokine responses in Strongyloides stercoralis infection by IL-27 and IL-37.

5 years ago

Modulation of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell function and cytokine responses in Strongyloides stercoralis infection by IL-27 and IL-37.

Babu S, Dolla C, Nutman TB, Kumaran P, Munisankar S, Anuradha R, Bhootra Y

Strongyloides stercoralis (Ss) infection is associated with diminished antigen - specific Th1- and Th17-associated responses and enhanced Th2-associated responses. IL-27 and IL-37 are 2 known anti-inflammatory cytokines that are highly expressed in Ss infection. We, therefore wanted to examine the role of IL-27 and IL-37 in regulating CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cell responses in Ss infection. To this end, we examined the frequency of Th1/Tc1, Th2/Tc2, Th9/Tc9, Th17/Tc17 and Th22/Tc22 cells in 15 Ss- infected individuals and 10 uninfected individuals, stimulated with parasite antigen following IL-27 or IL-37 neutralization. We also examined the production of prototypical Type 1, Type 2, Type 9, Type 17 and Type 22 cytokines in the whole blood supernatants. Our data reveal that IL-27 or IL-37 neutralization resulted in significantly enhanced frequencies of Th1/Tc1, Th2/Tc2, Th17/Tc17, Th9 and Th22 cells with parasite antigen stimulation. There was no induction of any T cell response in uninfected individuals following parasite antigen stimulation and IL-27 or IL-37 neutralization. Moreover, we also observed increased production of IFNγ, IL-5, IL-9, IL-17 and IL-22 and decreased production of IL-10 following IL-27 and IL-37 neutralization and parasite antigen stimulation in whole blood cultures. Thus, we demonstrate that IL-27 and IL-37 limit the induction of particular T cell subsets along with cytokine responses in Ss infections and suggests the importance of IL-27 and IL-37 in immune modulation in a chronic helminth infection.

Publisher URL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28874444

DOI: PubMed:28874444