Published online before print April 20, 2009
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* World Health Organization Immunology Research and Training Centre and
Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland;
Department of Parasitology, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France; and
Department of Pathology, University of Geneva, Switzerland
2. Correspondence: WHO Immunology Research and Training Centre, Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, 155 chemin des Boveresses, CH-1066 Epalinges, Switzerland. E-mail: fabienne.tacchini-cottier{at}unil.ch
ABSTRACT
Upon infection with the protozoan parasite Leishmania major, susceptible BALB/c mice develop unhealing lesions associated with the maturation of CD4+Th2 cells secreting IL-4. In contrast, resistant C57BL/6 mice heal their lesions, because of expansion and secretion of IFN-
of CD4+ Th1 cells. The Fas-FasL pathway, although not involved in Th cell differentiation, was reported to be necessary for complete resolution of lesions. We investigate here the role of IFN-
and IL-4 on Fas-FasL nonapoptotic signaling events leading to the modulation of macrophage activation. We show that addition of FasL and IFN-
to BMMø led to their increased activation, as reflected by enhanced secretion of TNF, IL-6, NO, and the induction of their microbicidal activity, resulting in the killing of intracellular L. major. In contrast, the presence of IL-4 decreased the synergy of IFN-
/FasL significantly on macrophage activation and the killing of intracellular L. major. These results show that FasL synergizes with IFN-
to activate macrophages and that the tight regulation by IFN-
and/or IL-4 of the nonapoptotic signaling events triggered by the Fas-FasL pathway affects significantly the activation of macrophages to a microbicidal state and may thus contribute to the pathogenesis of L. major infection.
Key Words: tumor necrosis factor (TNF) Leishmania Toll-like receptors