IL-5 contributes to worm expulsion and muscle hypercontractility in a primary T. spiralis infection

Bruce A. Vallance, Patricia A. Blennerhassett, Yikang Deng, Klaus I. Matthaei, Ian G. Young, Stephen M. Collins*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

58 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Enteric nematode infections lead to increased interleukin (IL)-5 expression, eosinophilic inflammation, and intestinal smooth muscle hypercontractility. Although eosinophils release inflammatory mediators that cause smooth muscle contraction, the role of IL-5 and eosinophils in enteric smooth muscle hypercontractility is unclear. IL-5-deficient mice and their wild-type controls were infected with the nematode Trichinella spiralis. Intestinal parasites and eosinophils were counted, and jejunal longitudinal muscle contractility was assessed. During infection, IL-5 gene expression increased significantly in wild-type mice and was accompanied by significant intestinal eosinophilia in wild-type but not IL-5-deficient mice. Although both strains developed increased muscle contractility during infection, contraction was significantly less in the IL-5-deficient mice at days 16 and 21 postinfection. In addition, parasite expulsion was transiently delayed at day 16 in IL-5-deficient mice. Thus, in the nematode-infected mouse, IL-5 appears essential for intestinal eosinophilia and contributes to, but is not essential for, the development of muscle hypercontractility. IL-5 also appears to play a minor role in expelling a primary T. spiralis infection from the gut.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)G400-G408
JournalAmerican Journal of Physiology - Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology
Volume277
Issue number2 40-2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1999

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