NK1.1+ cell depletion in vivo fails to prevent protection against infection with the murine nematode parasite Trichuris muris

Protection against the murine nematode parasite Trichuris muris has been shown to involve interleukin 4 (IL-4). NK1.1(+) T cell receptor alphabeta(+) cells, designated Natural Killer T (NKT) cells, produce a large amount of IL-4 in response to anti-CD3 stimulation and numerous pieces of evidence suggest that NKT cells provide the initial source of IL-4 for T helper 2 (Th2) priming. These observations allow the hypothesis that NKT cells produce a large amount of IL-4 in response to T. muris infection and augment Th2 responses and IL-4 production, thus achieving protection against T. muris. To investigate the involvement of NKT cells in protection against T. muris infection, NK1.1(+) cell-depleted B10.BR mice were prepared by anti-NK1.1 monoclonal antibody injection. Efficient expulsion of T. muris worms occurred in NK1.1(+) cell-depleted infected mice, and the expulsion kinetics of T. muris worms, the levels of IL-4 production by mesenteric lymph node cells, and the kinetics of the specific IgG1 and IgG2a responses to T. muris were similar to those in mouse IgG-treated or non-treated control B10.BR mice. These observations suggest that NK1.1 + cells and NKT cells are not involved in the induction of Th2 responses and protective immunity to T. muris infection.