IL-4 protects against TNF-alpha-mediated cachexia and death during acute schistosomiasis

To examine the role of the Th2-type response during schistosomiasis mansoni we compared disease progression in wild type (wt), and Th2-response deficient IL-4(-/-) mice. Whereas wt C57BL/6 mice tolerate infection and develop chronic disease, IL-4(-/-) C57BL/6 animals are highly susceptible, exhibiting severe acute cachexia followed by death. Data point toward morbidity in the IL-4(-/-) C57BL/6 mice being mediated by TNF-alpha, possibly through the uncontrolled production of nitric oxide in target organs such as the ileum. We propose that IL-4 prevents severe disease during schistosomiasis by regulating macrophage activation.