IL‐4Rα‐expressing CD11c(+) cells contribute to driving optimal cellular responses during Schistosoma mansoni infection in mice

Development of IL‐4 receptor alpha (IL‐4Rα)‐dependent cellular immunity regulates host protection against acute schistosomiasis. In this study, we investigated the importance of IL‐4Rα‐expressing CD11c(+) cells in driving the development of optimal cellular responses to Schistosoma mansoni infection by using CD11c(cre)IL‐4Rα(−/lox) BALB/c mice, which lacked IL‐4Rα expression on dendritic cells and alveolar macrophages. Abrogation of IL‐4Rα expression on CD11c(+) cells affected activation of CD4(+) T cells, resulting in reduced numbers of effector CD4(+) T cells and impaired production of Th1 and Th2 cytokines by CD4(+) T cells ex vivo. However, secretion of both type 1 and type 2 Ab isotypes was unchanged in infected CD11c‐specific IL‐4Rα‐deficient mice compared to littermate controls. Together, these data demonstrate that IL‐4Rα‐expressing CD11c(+) cells play an important role in maintaining cellular immunity during schistosomiasis in mice.