A. Sjolander et al., INDUCTION OF A TH1 IMMUNE-RESPONSE AND SIMULTANEOUS LACK OF ACTIVATION OF A TH2 RESPONSE ARE REQUIRED FOR GENERATION OF IMMUNITY TO LEISHMANIASIS, The Journal of immunology, 160(8), 1998, pp. 3949-3957
Experimental systems based on immunization with plasmid DNA or immune-
stimulating complexes were used to delineate the requirements for gene
ration of protective immunity against murine leishmaniasis. Vaccinatio
n with plasmid DNA encoding the host-protective Leishmania major paras
ite surface Ag-2 primed for an essentially exclusive Th1 response that
protected mice against L, major infection, In contrast, parasite surf
ace Ag-2 in immune-stimulating complexes generated an immune response
with mixed Th1-like and Th2-like properties that was not protective de
spite the activation of large numbers of CD4(+) T cells secreting IFN-
gamma, These results indicate that a Th1 response is sufficient to pro
tect against cutaneous leishmaniasis, but the induction of a simultane
ous Th2 response abrogates the Th1 effector function, DNA vaccines may
therefore have an advantage for diseases in which protection depends
on the induction of Th1 responses.