Identification of Helminth-induced Type 2 CD4+ T Cells and ILC2s

Abstract

After activation, T cells differentiate into different T helper (Th) subsets, namely Th1, Th2, and Th17. These different Th subsets are associated with the production of particular cytokines endowing them with different functions. In immunity against helminth infections the Th2 cell subset plays an important role. Th2 cells typically produce IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and IL-9 resulting in antibody-isotype switching to IgE, eosinophilia, basophilia, mucin production, and smooth muscle cell hyperactivity. Here we analyze the development of the pathogen specific Th2 immune responses in mice after infection with the helminth parasite, Heligmosomoides polygyrus bakeri, the induction of innate lymphoid cells type 2 (ILC2) and the activation of the inflammasome in macrophages by excretory/secretory products of Heligmosomoides polygyrus bakeri.