Neonatal Basophils Stifle the Function of Early-Life Dendritic Cells To Curtail Th1 Immunity in Newborn Mice.

ABSTRACT: Neonatal immunity exhibits weak Th1 but excessive Th2 responses, and the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. In this article, we show that neonatal basophils readily produce IL-4, a cytokine that proved to be pivotal in shaping the programs of both lymphocyte subsets. Besides promoting Th2 programs, IL-4 is captured by the IL-4 heteroreceptor (IL-4Rα/IL-13Rα1) expressed on dendritic cells and instigates IL-12 downregulation. Under these circumstances, differentiating Th1 cells upregulate IL-13Rα1, leading to an unusual expression of the heteroreceptor, which will serve as a death marker for these Th1 cells during rechallenge with Ag. The resulting Th1/Th2 imbalance impacts childhood immunity culminating in sensitivity to allergic reactions, susceptibility to microbial infection and perha

SUBMITTER: Dhakal M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4491044 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature