IL-10 is a pleiotropic cytokine with immunoregulatory functions affecting various cell types. In a model of experimental infection with the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), we found increased morbidity and lower parasite control in IL-10 deficient mice (IL-10 KO) compared to wild-type (WT) mice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGalectin-1 (Gal-1), an endogenous glycan-binding protein, is widely distributed at sites of inflammation and microbial invasion. Despite considerable progress regarding the immunoregulatory activity of this lectin, the role of endogenous Gal-1 during acute parasite infections is uncertain. In this study, we show that Gal-1 functions as a negative regulator to limit host-protective immunity following intradermal infection with Trypanosoma cruzi.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEarly interactions between natural killer (NK) and dendritic cells (DC) shape the immune response at the frontier of innate and adaptive immunity. Activated NK cells participate in maturation or deletion of DCs that remain immature. We previously demonstrated that infection with a high virulence (HV) population of the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi downmodulates DC maturation and T-cell activation capacity.
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