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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 296/3/G593    most recent 90431.2008v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (2) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Cardoso, C. R. Articles by Silva, J. S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Cardoso, C. R. Articles by Silva, J. S.

MUCOSAL BIOLOGY

IL-4 regulates susceptibility to intestinal inflammation in murine food allergy

Departments of ¹Biochemistry and Immunology, ²Internal Medicine, ³Pathology, and ⁴Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto/SP, Brazil; ⁵Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba/MG, Brazil; ⁶Biology Institute, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói/RJ, Brazil

Submitted 15 July 2008 ; accepted in final form 30 December 2008

Allergies involve a state of immediate hypersensitivity to antigens, including food proteins. The mechanism underlying the initiation and development of allergic responses involves IL-4 that directly induces the differentiation of committed effector Th2 lymphocytes. Although it is clear that Th2 responses play a pivotal role in the development of allergic responses, it remains unclear which mechanisms are involved in the development of the intestinal damages observed in food allergy. Accordingly, this work aimed to study the role of Th2/IL-4-dependent responses in the development of food allergy and intestinal pathology. C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) and IL-4^–/– mice were sensitized with peanut proteins, challenged with peanut seeds, and followed for the development of food allergy and intestinal inflammation. Results demonstrated that exposure to peanut seeds led to weight loss in WT but not in IL-4^–/– mice that preserved gut integrity with no signs of mucosal inflammation. These animals presented increased levels of IgG2a in sera, suggesting a role for allergic antibodies in the pathogenesis of WT animals. Most importantly, results also showed that lack of IL-4 modulated gut mucosal response in food allergy through diminished expression of TNF- mRNA, increased Th1 IFN-, IL-12p40, regulatory cytokines, and Foxp3, demonstrating their relevance in the control of allergic inflammatory processes, especially in the intestine. Finally, this study highlighted some of the complex mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of allergic responses to food antigens in the gut, thereby providing valuable tools for directing novel therapeutic or preventive strategies to the control of allergic enteropathy.

interleukin-4; peanut; Th2 response

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