Endogenous IL-27 during toxoplasmosis limits early monocyte responses and their inflammatory activation by pathological T cells.

Abstract

The molecule IL-27 is critical in limiting the immune response to the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. In the absence of IL-27, a lethal, overactive immune response develops during infection. However, when exactly in the course of infection this molecule is needed was unclear. By selectively inhibiting IL-27 during this parasitic infection, we discovered that IL-27 was only needed during, but not prior to, infection. Additionally, IL-27 is only needed in the active areas in which the parasite is replicating. Finally, our work found that a previously unstudied cell type, monocytes, was regulated by IL-27, which contributes further to our understanding of the regulatory networks established by this molecule.