Host protective immunity to Haemonchus contortus (Hc) infection in parasite-resistant St. Croix (STC) sheep is initiated early and characterized by an influx of innate cells and robust interleukin-4 (IL-4) production, resulting in T-helper type 2 immune (Th2) responses. The purpose of these studies was to elucidate the source of early IL-4 production. Neutrophils were isolated from whole blood, and populations >98% purity were cultured with larval or adult antigen to access cytokine production. Interleukin-4 and IL-13 were measured in sample supernatant using an ovine-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Neutrophils exposed to HcLA peaked in IL-4 production at 30 minutes (STC, 3153.65 pg/mL and SUF, 4665.22 pg/mL). A similar trend was observed in IL-13 production by 6 hours (STC, 391.02 pg/mL and SUF, 419.6 pg/mL). Adult antigen stimulation resulted in low cytokine production when compared to HcLA stimulation (STC IL-4, 6.04 pg/mL and SUF, 8.05 pg/mL, respectively; STC IL-13, 10 pg/mL and 12.5 pg/mL; P < .001), and no breed differences were observed. Mixed immune cell assays revealed an ability of neutrophils to induce IL-4 production in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC). Taken together, these data implicate neutrophils as a potential effector cell responsible for Th2 initiation.

中文翻译：

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中性粒细胞响应幼虫而迅速产生Th2细胞因子，但不响应成虫蠕虫抗原。

寄主对抗寄生虫的圣克鲁瓦（STC）绵羊的捻转血矛线虫（Hc）感染的宿主保护性免疫较早就开始了，其特征是先天细胞大量涌入和强大的白介素4（IL-4）产生，从而导致T型辅助2种免疫（Th2）反应。这些研究的目的是阐明早期IL-4产生的来源。从全血中分离出嗜中性粒细胞，并用幼虫或成年抗原培养纯度> 98％的种群，以获取细胞因子的产生。使用绵羊特异性酶联免疫吸附测定（ELISA）在样品上清液中测量白介素4和IL-13。暴露于HcLA的嗜中性粒细胞在30分钟时的IL-4产量达到峰值（STC，3153.65 pg / mL，SUF，4665.22 pg / mL）。到6小时时，IL-13产生量也观察到类似趋势（STC，391.02 pg / mL和SUF，419.6 pg / mL）。与HcLA刺激相比，成人抗原刺激导致低的细胞因子产生（STC IL-4，6.04 pg / mL和SUF，8.05 pg / mL; STC IL-13，10 pg / mL和12.5 pg / mL; P < .001），没有观察到任何品种差异。混合免疫细胞分析显示嗜中性粒细胞具有诱导外周血单核细胞（PBMC）中IL-4产生的能力。综上所述，这些数据暗示嗜中性粒细胞是负责Th2启动的潜在效​​应细胞。