Amphiregulin, a T_H2 Cytokine Enhancing Resistance to Nematodes

摘要

Despite improved sanitation, intestinal nem-atode infections remain a major health threat to humans. Protection against nematodes is mainly mediated by type 2-biased immune responses, characterized by T helper 2 (T_H2) lymphocytes and other cells secreting a set of cytokines, including interleukin 4 (IL-4), IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13. Increased shedding of the epithelium of the caecum of the intestine is also crucially important for clearing the intestinal nematode parasite Trichuris muris. Members of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family can induce proliferation of the gut epithelium.