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Infection and Immunity, April 2005, p. 2175-2183, Vol. 73, No. 4
0019-9567/05/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/IAI.73.4.2175-2183.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Increased Expression of Interleukin-5 (IL-5), IL-13, and Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Genes in Intestinal Lymph Cells of Sheep Selected for Enhanced Resistance to Nematodes during Infection with Trichostrongylus colubriformis

Anton Pernthaner,^1* Sally-Ann Cole, Lilian Morrison, and Wayne R. Hein

AgResearch Limited, Wallaceville Animal Research Centre, Upper Hutt, New Zealand

Received 2 August 2004/ Returned for modification 10 September 2004/ Accepted 16 December 2004

Cytokine gene expression in cells migrating in afferent and efferent intestinal lymph was monitored for extended time periods in individual sheep experimentally infected with the nematode Trichostrongylus colubriformis. Animals from stable selection lines with increased levels of either genetic resistance (R) or susceptibility (S) to nematode infection were used. Genes for interleukin-5 (IL-5), IL-13, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-), but not for IL-4, IL-10, or gamma interferon (IFN-), were consistently expressed at higher levels in both afferent and efferent lymph cells of R sheep than in S sheep. However, only minor differences were observed in the surface phenotypes and antigenic and mitogenic responsiveness of cells in intestinal lymph between animals from the two selection lines. The IL-4 and IL-10 genes were expressed at higher levels in afferent lymph cells than in efferent lymph cells throughout the course of the nematode infection in animals of both genotypes, while the proinflammatory TNF- gene was relatively highly expressed in both lymph types. These relationships notwithstanding, expression of the IL-10 and TNF- genes declined significantly in afferent lymph cells but not in efferent lymph cells during infection. Collectively, the results showed that R-line sheep developed a strong polarization toward a Th2-type cytokine profile in immune cells migrating in lymph from sites where the immune response to nematodes was initiated, although the IFN- gene was also expressed at moderate levels. Genes or alleles that predispose an animal to develop this type of response appear to have segregated with the R selection line and may contribute to the increased resistance of these animals.

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* Corresponding author. Mailing address: AgResearch Limited, Wallaceville Animal Research Center, P.O. Box 40063, Ward St., Upper Hutt, New Zealand. Phone: 64 4 922 1577. Fax: 64 4 922 1380. E-mail: Tony.Pernthaner{at}agresearch.co.nz.

Editor: J. F. Urban, Jr.

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Infection and Immunity, April 2005, p. 2175-2183, Vol. 73, No. 4
0019-9567/05/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/IAI.73.4.2175-2183.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

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