Abstract
Helminth infections are a global health burden in humans and livestock and are considered to be a major evolutionary driver of type 2 immunity (orchestrated by type 2 cytokines, e.g., IL‐4 and IL‐13). Upon infection, helminths cause substantial damage to mucosal tissues as they migrate within the host and elicit crucial protective immune mechanisms. Macrophages, essential innate cells, are known to adopt a specific activation status (termed M(IL‐4)) in type 2 cytokine environments. Yet, the role of these macrophages in mediating protective immune/wound healing responses to helminths is unclear. Furthermore, macrophage subsets can be very heterogenous (linked to their differing cellular origins) and the relative role of these subsets in the context of M(IL‐4) activation to helminth infection is unknown. An article by Rolot et al. in this issue of the European Journal of Immunology [Eur. J. Immunol. 2019. 49: 1067–1081] uses a variety of transgenic murine strains to revise our understanding of the complexity of how these subsets undergo M(IL‐4) activation and participate in wound healing responses in helminth infection. Here we highlight that consideration of different macrophage subsets in mucosal tissues is essential when evaluating the functional role of M(IL‐4) macrophages.
Highlights
Helminth infections are a global health burden in humans and livestock and are considered to be a major evolutionary driver of type 2 immunity
We highlight that consideration of different macrophage subsets in mucosal tissues is essential when evaluating the functional role of M(IL-4) macrophages
European Journal of Immunology Rolot et al have re-evaluated the role of IL-4R expression on macrophages in a rodent model of Schistosoma mansoni infection and have found a limited role for M(IL-4) activation in the recruitment of macrophages, the resistance to infection or survival of experimental animals [6]
Summary
Helminth infections are a global health burden in humans and livestock and are considered to be a major evolutionary driver of type 2 immunity (orchestrated by type 2 cytokines, e.g., IL-4 and IL-13). The role of these macrophages in mediating protective immune/wound healing responses to helminths is unclear. Cook e-mail: peter.c.cook@manchester.ac.uk anti-parasite type 2 immunity is the IL-4 receptor (IL-4Rα, essential for IL-4 and IL-13 downstream signaling) mediated activation of macrophages and the resulting M(IL-4) activation phenotype, which has been associated with many crucial features of resistance to infection [2].
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