THE INVOLVEMENT OF CD80 AND CD86 COSTIMULATORY MOLECULES IN THE INDUCTION OF EOSINOPHILIA IN MICE INFECTED WITH NIPPONSTRONGYLUS-BRASILIENSIS

The costimulatory signal provided by the interaction between CD28 and its ligands, CD80 and CD86, is critical for T cell activation. The req uirement of CD80 and CD86 in T cell activation for eosinophilia and Ig E production was examined in mice infected with the nematode parasite Nippostrongylus brasiliensis. Combined treatment with anti-CD80 and an ti-CD86 suppressed eosinophilia in the blood and the small intestine a nd suppressed IgE production. However, administration of either anti-C D80 or anti-CD86 alone had little effect on eosinophilia and on the el evation of IgE levels, These results suggest that CD80 and CD86 costim ulation is required and either CD80 or CD86 can provide a sufficient c ostimulatory signal for induction of eosinophilia in mice infected wit h N. brasiliensis.