Immune regulation of intestinal goblet cell differentiation. Specific induction of nonspecific protection against helminths?

Goblet cell differentiation (GCD) was studied in the intestines of rats infected with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis since an important component of the immune expulsion of this parasite is thought to be nonspecific. An increase in the proportion of villous goblet cells occured at the time of worm expulsion during a primary infection. GCD was augmented by the passive transfer of immune thoracic duct lymphocytes and immune serum in infected rats but not in normal controls. Since drug-induced expulsion of the worms did not induce comparable changes, it was concluded that increased GCD in passively immunized rats was not simply a repair phenomenon. Passive protection with serum was abrogated by reserpine and prednisolone and GCD was depressed in the recipients of these drugs. The possibility that goblet cell differentiation and mucus release are part of the nonspecific component of worm expulsion is discussed.