Abstract
Protection against intestinal parasites induced by IL-3 administration and roles of intestinal mucosal mast cells on the protection were reviewed. A repetitive injection of low dose of recombinant IL-3 induced protection against intestinal worms of Strongyloides ratti in C57BL/6 mice. Number of intestinal mucosal mast cell (MMC) was increased by the protective dose of IL-3. The protective effect of IL-3 on intestinal worms was observed within 6 hr post oral infection. An MMC specific protease was secreted 200 times of control in the intestinal lumen by the IL-3 treatment. The IL-3 treatment induced no protection in mast cell deficient W/Wv mice. Therefore, we concluded that the IL-3 induced intestinal protection against S. ratti is medicated by MMC. Interestingly, the IL-3 treatment was ineffective in protection against Nippostrongylus brasiliensis. Significance of different expulsion mechanisms between the two nematodes was discussed.
Key words
IL-3; mucosal mast cells; expulsion; mice; Strongyloides ratti; Nippostrongylus brasiliensis.