IL-1-dependent, IL-1R1-independent resistance to gastrointestinal nematodes

Abstract

IL-1 null mice are unable to expel the intestinal nematode Trichuris muris; whereas WT littermates exhibit sterile immunity. Intriguingly the essential signalling components IL-1R1 and IL-1R accessory protein (AcP) are dispensable for expulsion of this parasite. IL-1 is thus critical for CD4(+) Th2-mediated immunity to T. muris; however, this action is independent of the established IL-1 signalling receptor. We also present data demonstrating that both IL-1alpha and IL-1beta induce measurable effects on T. muris primed cells isolated from IL-1R1 or IL-1R AcP null mice. MLN cells from these mice restimulated with parasite antigen proliferated at a greater rate and produced more cytokines in response to exogenous IL-1. This ability to respond to IL-1 was restricted to these parasite-primed cells and importantly was not evident in cells from naïve gene null mice. These in vitro data are consistent with the observed ability of mice with compromised IL-1 signalling to expel the parasite, bolstering the premise that an alternative IL-1 signalling mechanism is accessible in the context of an intestinal helminth-driven Th2 immune response.