IL-33 Contributes to Schistosoma japonicum-induced Hepatic Pathology through Induction of M2 Macrophages

Sci Rep. 2016 Jul 21:6:29844. doi: 10.1038/srep29844.

Abstract

Interleukin (IL)-33 is involved in T helper (Th)2-biased immune responses in mice infected with Schistosoma, but the precise mechanism remains to be elucidated. Herein, we investigated the role of IL-33 and its receptor ST2L in hepatic granuloma pathology induced by Schistosoma japonicum infection. We found that IL-33 induced the increased production of IL-5 and IL-13 from splenocytes and liver mononuclear cells (MNCs) of infected mice. The infected mice developed significantly higher number of ST2L-expressing cells in spleen and liver. Most of the ST2L-expressing cells in liver were F4/80(+) macrophages, indicating the key role of macrophages in the response to IL-33. However, the liver MNCs in male-only worm infection had a poor response to IL-33, though elevated serum IL-33 was observed. ST2L(+)F4/80(+) cells were lower in male-only worm infection than that of mixed infection. IL-33 and soluble egg antigen (SEA) upregulated ST2L expression on macrophages in vitro and ST2L-expressing macrophage displayed MHCII(-)CD11b(+)M2 phenotype. Macrophage deletion significantly attenuated IL-33-induced type 2 immunity and egg granuloma formation during S. japonicum infection. These data demonstrate that IL-33 contributes to hepatic granuloma pathology through induction of M2 macrophages during S. japonicum infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cell Polarity
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Female
  • Granuloma / immunology
  • Granuloma / parasitology
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-33 / physiology*
  • Liver / immunology*
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Liver / parasitology
  • Macrophages / immunology*
  • Macrophages / parasitology
  • Male
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Receptors, Interleukin-1 / genetics
  • Receptors, Interleukin-1 / metabolism
  • Schistosoma japonicum / immunology*
  • Schistosomiasis japonica / blood
  • Schistosomiasis japonica / immunology*
  • Schistosomiasis japonica / pathology
  • Transcriptional Activation

Substances

  • IL33 protein, human
  • Interleukin-33
  • Receptors, Interleukin-1
  • ST2L protein, mouse