T-Helper 1 and T-Helper 2 Cytokine Responses in Gut-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Following Enteric Reovirus Infection

Enteric infection of mice with reovirus serotype 1 elicits antibody and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes in gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT). This led to the hypothesis that T-helper 1 (Th1) and T-helper 2 (Th2) responses develop in GALT. Reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reactions on RNA from Peyerʹs patches (PP), intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL), and lamina propria (LP) lymphocytes demonstrated that interferon (IFN)-γ message was increased in PP and IEL, but not in LP following infection. No increase in mRNA for interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, or IL-6 was detected. IFN-γ, IL-5, and IL-6 were produced inin vitrocultures of PP 4–10 days postinfection. PP and spleen lymphocytes from infected mice produced IFN-γ, but no IL-5 following in vitro restimulation. Infection also induced production of mRNA for the β2 chain of the IL-12 receptor in PP. We conclude that reovirus induces robust Th1 and weak Th2 cell responses in GALT.