Listeriolysin O, a cytolysin derived from Listeria monocytogenes, inhibits generation of ovalbumin-specific Th2 immune response by skewing maturation of antigen-specific T cells into Th1 cells.

Listeriolysin O (LLO), a cholesterol-dependent cytolysin derived from Listeria monocytogenes, is a potent inducer of interleukin (IL)-12, IL-18 and interferon (IFN)-gamma. We have shown that LLO facilitates development of T cells mediating protective immunity against L. monocytogenes through the induction of IFN-gamma production at an early stage. Based on this finding, it is postulated that LLO inhibits differentiation of Th2 cells and the Th2 immune response. By using a murine model of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic rhinitis, we investigated whether LLO has an ability to modulate the Th2-type immune disorder. In mice sensitized intraperitoneally with ovalbumin (OVA)/alum and challenged intranasally with OVA, a large number of eosinophils migrated into the nasal tissue, and high titres of anti-OVA IgE and IgG(1) antibodies were detected in sera. However, LLO treatment during sensitization markedly inhibited the eosinophil infiltration and production of these anti-OVA antibodies. A large number of T cells from mice sensitized and challenged with OVA produced high level of IL-4 and IL-5 but not IFN-gamma after stimulation with OVA. In contrast, OVA-specific IFN-gamma-producing T cells were preferentially induced in mice treated with LLO at the time of sensitization. In the absence of LLO administration, the expression level of GATA-3 and SOCS-3 in CD4(+) T cells was enhanced after sensitization with OVA. LLO treatment resulted in a reduction of GATA-3 and SOCS-3 expressions but induced the transcription of T-bet instead. Taken together, these data show clearly that LLO is capable of inhibiting Th2 immune response by skewing differentiation of antigen-specific T cells into Th1 cells.