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The Journal of Immunology, 00, 165: 2619-2627.
Copyright © 00 by The American Association of Immunologists

Identification of STAT4-Dependent and Independent Mechanisms of Resistance to Toxoplasma gondii1

Guifang Cai*, Thad Radzanowski*, Eric N. Villegas*, Robert Kastelein2,{dagger} and Christopher A. Hunter3,*

* Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104; and {dagger} Department of Molecular Biology, DNAX Research Institute, Palo Alto, CA 94303

The capacity of IL-12 to stimulate T and NK cell production of IFN-{gamma} is required for resistance to Toxoplasma gondii. To identify the transcription factors involved in this mechanism of resistance, mice deficient in STAT4, a protein involved in IL-12 signaling, were infected with T. gondii and their immune responses were analyzed. STAT4-/- mice were unable to control parasite replication and died during the acute phase of infection, whereas wild-type mice controlled parasite replication and survived this challenge. The susceptibility of STAT4-/- mice to toxoplasmosis correlated with a defect in their ability to produce IFN-{gamma} in response to infection, whereas administration of IFN-{gamma} to these mice inhibited parasite replication and delayed time to death. Interestingly, analysis of infected STAT4-/- mice revealed that these mice did produce low levels of IFN-{gamma} during infection, and the ability of splenocytes from infected or uninfected STAT4-/- mice to produce IFN-{gamma} was enhanced by the addition of IL-2 plus IL-18. Moreover, administration of IL-2 plus IL-18 to STAT4-/- mice resulted in elevated serum levels of IFN-{gamma} associated with a decreased parasite burden and delayed time to death. In vivo depletion studies demonstrated that the ability of IL-2 plus IL-18 to mediate STAT4-independent resistance to T. gondii is dependent on NK cell production of IFN-{gamma}. Together, these studies identify STAT4 as an important transcription factor required for development of the innate NK and adaptive T cell responses necessary for resistance to T. gondii. However, other signaling pathways can be used to bypass STAT4-dependent production of IFN-{gamma} and enhance innate resistance to T. gondii.




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