IL-12 enhances vaccine-induced immunity to Schistosoma mansoni in mice and decreases T helper 2 cytokine expression, IgE production, and tissue eosinophilia.

Vaccination of mice with radiation-attenuated cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni results in a highly significant but partial protection against challenge infection. This immunity is dependent on CD4+ T cells, and because of its suppression by anti-IFN-gamma, appears to be caused by a Th1 response. Nevertheless, both Th1 and Th2 lymphokines are expressed in vaccinated and challenged mice, and we hypothesized that the expression of the latter group of down-regulatory cytokines may be responsible for the failure to obtain complete protection. Because IL-12 is a key cytokine that suppresses Th2-like responses, we asked whether IL-12 could increase vaccine-induced immunity to S. mansoni. Indeed, administration of IL-12 significantly reduced worm burdens following a challenge infection. IL-12-treated animals displayed a marked increase in pulmonary IFN-gamma and IL-12 p40 mRNA expression, while levels of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 were suppressed significantly during the period of vaccination. A marked decrease in serum IgE and tissue eosinophilia, two responses regulated by Th2 cytokines, was also observed. Surprisingly, IL-12-treated/vaccinated mice failed to demonstrate a significant increase in IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, or nitric oxide synthase mRNA at the time of challenge infection when compared with vaccinated controls, but did, however, display significantly suppressed Th2 cytokine mRNA production. Together, these data demonstrate that exogenous IL-12 regulates Th1/Th2 responses during immunization with irradiated cercariae, and suggest that this cytokine may be used to increase vaccine-induced immunity to S. mansoni.