Hepatic fibrosis represents the generalized response of the liver to injury and is characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix. The cellular basis of this process is complex and involves interplay of many factors, of which cytokines are prominent. We have identified divergent fibrosing responses to injury among mouse strains and taken advantage of these differences to examine ...

B7-1/B7-2 interactions are required for many Th2-cell mediated primary immune responses including the response that follows infection with the intestinal nematode parasite, Heligmosomoides polygyrus. However, few studies have examined the role of B7-1/B7-2/CD28 interactions in the development of a Th2 memory immune response. We examined the development of the memory Th2 response to H. polygyrus...

It has been demonstrated recently that neonatal antigen administration in the mouse can lead to priming for Th2-mediated immune responses. This observation has important implications for the development of vaccination strategies in humans, particularly for individuals who may be predisposed to atopy or asthma. In this paper it is shown that although i.p. administration of antigen (100 microg) i...

Excessive scarring or fibrosis is a common feature of a wide spectrum of diseases characterized by an exaggerated Th2 response. The TLR/IL-1 receptor (IL-1R)-related protein ST2 is expressed in a membrane-bound form selectively by Th2 cells and was shown to be indispensable for some in vivo Th2 responses. ST2 was also found to block TLR signaling. We addressed the impact of the ST2 pathway on f...

We present and analyze a model for the cross-regulation of the Th1 and Th2 helper cell subsets during an immune response by the regulatory cytokines interferon-gamma (IFN)-gamma) and interleukin-10 (IL-10). IFN-gamma, secreted by Th1 cells, can inhibit the proliferation of Th2 cells. Interleukin-10, secreted by Th2 cells, inhibits cytokine production by Th1 cells. Based on these properties, the...

The immune response to helminth infections has long been known to share key features with the allergic response. In particular, both are typified by enhanced T helper 2 (Th2) responses with high levels of interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5 and IL-13, accompanied by eosinophilia and abundant IgE production. Paradoxically, the geographical distribution of helminth parasitism and allergic disease is compl...

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play an important role in the induction of innate and adaptive immune response against influenza A virus (IAV) infection; however, the role of Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) during the innate immune response to IAV infection and the cell types affected by the absence of TLR7 are not clearly understood. In this study, we show that myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC) a...

The immune system plays a pivotal role against cancer. The development of a successful immune response involves the balance between the Th1 (antitumor) and Th2 (protumor) responses. Once this balance is lost, diseases such as cancer may become apparent. Surgical stress, volatile anaesthetics, opioids and blood transfusions are known to favour a Th2 response that manifests as immune suppression....

The immune system of the human organism comprises the innate system cells and the adaptive immune cells. The former include the hematopoietic cells, mast cells, basophils, monocytes, dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages, and the latter include CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, T regulatory cells (Tr) and B cells. The innate system DCs are the major antigen-presenting cells to Th(o) CD4+ T cells in l...