Localization and regulation of IFN-gamma production within the granulomas of murine schistosomiasis in IL-4-deficient and control mice.

Schistosome granulomas from normal or IL-4-deficient C57BL/6 mice make little IFN-gamma and show no Th1 polarization. This could signify that these granulomas have few cells capable of IFN-gamma synthesis or that such cells are under tight control. Granulomas can make IL-10 and TGF-beta, which can regulate IFN-gamma synthesis. Using FACS analysis and ELISA, we explored the origin and regulation of IFN-gamma in schistosome granulomas from both IL-4(-/-) and IL-4(+/+) mice. FACS analysis of intracytoplasmic IFN-gamma staining showed that some granuloma Thy1.2+ T cells (CD8+ and CD4+) express IFN-gamma. Granulomas had NK1.1+ cells, but they appeared to produce little or no IFN-gamma. Purified granuloma Thy1.2+ cells made IFN-gamma in vitro, whereas isolated NK1.1+ lymphocytes secreted little even with rIL-12 stimulation. Culture of granuloma cells with blocking anti-IL-10 or anti-TGF-beta mAb or with rIL-12 substantially increased T cell IFN-gamma synthesis, particularly in the IL-4(-/-) animals. Cultured granuloma cells depleted of Thy1.2+ lymphocytes by Ab and C released no IFN-gamma. It is concluded that granuloma IFN-gamma comes from T cells, not NK cells. Also, this T cell-derived IFN-gamma is subject to IL-10 and TGF-beta regulation, which is particularly evident in IL-4(-/-) mice. Thus, the Th2 granuloma of schistosomiasis has large numbers of activated Th1 or Th0 lymphocytes that are under tight restraint.