IL-4 dependent resistance to the tapeworm Mesocestoides corti (Cestoda) in mice

Three-week Mesocestoides corti infections of C57BL/6 mice showed significantly raised parasite counts in animals with a targeted knockout of the IL-4 gene. By contrast, antibody neutralization of IL-5 and inhibition of eosinophilia had no effect on parasite numbers. In SV/129 mice, knockout of the interferon gamma receptor and inducible nitric oxide synthase genes had no significant effect on parasite counts. In IL-4(-/-)mice the dominant IgG1 antibody response was dramatically reduced, with a concomitant increase in IgG2a/b responses and a partial twofold reduction in IgM and IgE responses. We conclude that murine resistance to M. corti is dependent on IL-4, but occurs independently of IL-5 and eosinophils. This provides the first direct evidence for IL-4 mediated immunity of mice to infection with a tissue-dwelling platyhelminth.