Role of programmed death ligand 2 in macrophage activation during Fasciola hepatica infection

STEMPIN, CC; FALCON, CR; AOKI, MP; MOTRAN, CC; CERBAN, FM; CERVI

Mar del PLata

Congreso; LIX Reunión Científica Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Investigación Clínica, LXII Reunión Científica Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Inmunología; 2014

Helminth infections induce an increase in co-inhibitory molecule programmed death ligand-2 (PD-L2) which is defined as a marker for alternatively activated macrophages and is involved in the inhibition of T cell proliferation. However, it is not known how PD-L2 modulates macrophage activation, which promotes fibrosis in helminth infections, whereas classical activation produces deleterious toxic metabolites. Previously we have observed that F. hepatica infection increases PD-L2 expression in F4/80+ cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of PD-L2 in the outcome of F. hepatica infection as well as in macrophage activation during experimental infection with the parasite. BALB/c WT and PD-L2 KO were orally infected with 8 F. hepatica metacercariae. Survival rate was evaluated and histological changes in liver tissues were determined by hematoxylin and eosin staining. PD-L2 KO mice showed increased mortality during F. hepatica infection (p