Identification and characterization of early interleukin (IL)-5/IL-13-producing cells and their inducing factors in experimental pulmonary cryptococcosis

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Gottfried Alber, since 2/2016
• Subject Area: Animal Breeding, Animal Nutrition, Animal Husbandry
• Term: from 2012 to 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 220277515

T helper (Th) 2 cell-responses are associated with protective immunity against parasites. In terms of immunopathology they can be important in diseases like allergy and Asthma bronchiale. In a pulmonary model of infection with the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans Th2 cell-induced immunopathology with typical goblet cell hyperplasia, eosinophilia, bronchconstriction and alternatively activated macrophages was found, too. Early interleukin (IL)-5/-13-producing cells precede the activation of immunopathological Th2 cells. One of the goals of the proposed project is to identify these Th2 cytokine-producing cells in experimental pulmonary cryptococcosis. It is also of interest if recently discovered Th2-associated cytokines (IL-25, IL-33), which are also found in cryptococcosis, regulate the early IL-5/IL-13-producing cells. The obtained results from this project will broaden our knowledge about the interaction of C. neoformans with innate immune cells and the impact of their released mediators on induction of adaptive Th2 responses.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: United Kingdom
• Participating Persons: Professorin Dr. Gabriele Köhler; Professor Dr. Andrew McKenzie; Professor Dr. Werner Stenzel
• Ehemaliger Antragsteller: Dr. Daniel Piehler, until 2/2016