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Investigating the role of IL-4Rα mediated signalling on Foxp3⁺ T regulatory cells during cutaneous leishmaniasis

In a murine model of Leishmania major infection, susceptible BALB/c mice develop a detrimental Type 2 immune response characterized by the production of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13, which single through a common receptor, the IL-4 receptor alpha chain (IL-4Rα). Forkhead box P3 (Foxp3⁺) Regulatory T...

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Main Author: Maine, Rebeng
Other Authors: Hurdayal, Ramona
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Cape Town 2021
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access_status_str Open Access
author Maine, Rebeng
author2 Hurdayal, Ramona
author_browse Hurdayal, Ramona
Maine, Rebeng
author_facet Hurdayal, Ramona
Maine, Rebeng
author_sort Maine, Rebeng
collection Thesis
description In a murine model of Leishmania major infection, susceptible BALB/c mice develop a detrimental Type 2 immune response characterized by the production of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13, which single through a common receptor, the IL-4 receptor alpha chain (IL-4Rα). Forkhead box P3 (Foxp3⁺) Regulatory T (Treg) cells are an unique subset of CD4⁺ T cells that play important immunomodulatory roles maintaining a balance between Type 1 and Type 2 immune responses. During L. major-induced cutaneous leishmaniasis, Treg cells accumulation at the site of infection has been implicated in suppressing a detrimental Type 2 immune response by modulating early interleukin (IL)-4 production, however it remains unclear if IL- 4Rα mediated signalling on Treg cells play a significant role in this process. To investigate this further, a novel BALB/c model was utilized in which the IL-4Rα chain was conditionally knocked out on Treg cells (Foxp3ᶜʳᵉIL-4Rα⁻<sup>/</sup>ˡᵒˣ mice). We demonstrated that the differential IL- 4Rα deletion efficiency in male (approximately 102 %) and female (approximately 32%) was maintained during L. major infection. Foxp3ᶜʳᵉIL-4Rα⁻<sup>/</sup>ˡᵒˣ male mice, which had a greater degree of IL-4Rα deletion on Foxp3⁺ Treg cells, developed significant footpad swellings and ear swellings, increased parasitic burdens at the site of infection and within draining lymph nodes. This hypersusceptible phenotype observed in Foxp3ᶜʳᵉIL-4Rα⁻<sup>/</sup>ˡᵒˣ BALB/c male mice was accompanied with an increased Treg cell activity and amplified Type-2 immune response with an increase in IL-4, IL-10 from L. major-infected lymph node samples and IgE antibody secretion in L. major infected serum samples. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that a L. major-induced Indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase (IDO)-mechanism could allow for increased Leishmania replication. Collectively, these data suggest a protective role for IL-4Rα signalling on Treg cells in suppressing a detrimental Type 2 during cutaneous leishmaniasis.
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institution University of Cape Town (South Africa)
language eng
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:43:37.479Z
license_str Not specified — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
publishDate 2021
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spelling oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/32532 Investigating the role of IL-4Rα mediated signalling on Foxp3⁺ T regulatory cells during cutaneous leishmaniasis Maine, Rebeng Hurdayal, Ramona Brombacher, Frank Molecular and Cell Biology In a murine model of Leishmania major infection, susceptible BALB/c mice develop a detrimental Type 2 immune response characterized by the production of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13, which single through a common receptor, the IL-4 receptor alpha chain (IL-4Rα). Forkhead box P3 (Foxp3⁺) Regulatory T (Treg) cells are an unique subset of CD4⁺ T cells that play important immunomodulatory roles maintaining a balance between Type 1 and Type 2 immune responses. During L. major-induced cutaneous leishmaniasis, Treg cells accumulation at the site of infection has been implicated in suppressing a detrimental Type 2 immune response by modulating early interleukin (IL)-4 production, however it remains unclear if IL- 4Rα mediated signalling on Treg cells play a significant role in this process. To investigate this further, a novel BALB/c model was utilized in which the IL-4Rα chain was conditionally knocked out on Treg cells (Foxp3ᶜʳᵉIL-4Rα⁻<sup>/</sup>ˡᵒˣ mice). We demonstrated that the differential IL- 4Rα deletion efficiency in male (approximately 102 %) and female (approximately 32%) was maintained during L. major infection. Foxp3ᶜʳᵉIL-4Rα⁻<sup>/</sup>ˡᵒˣ male mice, which had a greater degree of IL-4Rα deletion on Foxp3⁺ Treg cells, developed significant footpad swellings and ear swellings, increased parasitic burdens at the site of infection and within draining lymph nodes. This hypersusceptible phenotype observed in Foxp3ᶜʳᵉIL-4Rα⁻<sup>/</sup>ˡᵒˣ BALB/c male mice was accompanied with an increased Treg cell activity and amplified Type-2 immune response with an increase in IL-4, IL-10 from L. major-infected lymph node samples and IgE antibody secretion in L. major infected serum samples. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that a L. major-induced Indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase (IDO)-mechanism could allow for increased Leishmania replication. Collectively, these data suggest a protective role for IL-4Rα signalling on Treg cells in suppressing a detrimental Type 2 during cutaneous leishmaniasis. 2021-01-15T09:53:11Z 2021-01-15T09:53:11Z 2020 Master Thesis Masters MSc http://hdl.handle.net/11427/32532 eng application/pdf University of Cape Town Department of Molecular and Cell Biology Faculty of Science
spellingShingle Molecular and Cell Biology
Maine, Rebeng
Investigating the role of IL-4Rα mediated signalling on Foxp3⁺ T regulatory cells during cutaneous leishmaniasis
thesis_degree_str Master's
title Investigating the role of IL-4Rα mediated signalling on Foxp3⁺ T regulatory cells during cutaneous leishmaniasis
title_full Investigating the role of IL-4Rα mediated signalling on Foxp3⁺ T regulatory cells during cutaneous leishmaniasis
title_fullStr Investigating the role of IL-4Rα mediated signalling on Foxp3⁺ T regulatory cells during cutaneous leishmaniasis
title_full_unstemmed Investigating the role of IL-4Rα mediated signalling on Foxp3⁺ T regulatory cells during cutaneous leishmaniasis
title_short Investigating the role of IL-4Rα mediated signalling on Foxp3⁺ T regulatory cells during cutaneous leishmaniasis
title_sort investigating the role of il 4rα mediated signalling on foxp3⁺ t regulatory cells during cutaneous leishmaniasis
topic Molecular and Cell Biology
url http://hdl.handle.net/11427/32532
work_keys_str_mv AT mainerebeng investigatingtheroleofil4ramediatedsignallingonfoxp3tregulatorycellsduringcutaneousleishmaniasis