Th1-type cytokines improve resistance to murine cysticercosis caused by Taenia crassiceps

Resistance and susceptibility to different parasitic diseases have been ass ociated with the predominance of Th1- or Th2-type immune responses. In expe rimental murine cysticercosis a Th1 response seems to be involved in resist ance, whereas Th2 activity is associated with heavy parasite intensities. T o test this notion the roles of Th1- and Th2-type cytokines in infected mic e were studied after treatment with anticytokine monoclonal antibodies or w ith recombinant murine cytokines during early stages of infection. Mice rec eiving anti-interleukin 10 (IL-IO) carried lower parasite intensities than did control mice and developed a strong Th1-type response, whereas mice rec eiving anti-interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) showed a dramatic increase in susc eptibility. Treatment with recombinant cytokines confirmed these results; m ice receiving IFN-gamma and IL-2 showed low parasite numbers, whereas IL-10 induced a significant increase in parasite loads. Thus, the Th1-type immun e response plays a fundamental role in protection against Taenia crassiceps cysticercosis, whereas Th2, at least through IL-10, favors parasite establ ishment.