Haemonchus contortus HcL6 promoted goat Th9 immune response by activation STAT6/PU.1/NF-κB Pathway

Abstract

Abstract Th9 cells have been shown to play a crucial role in parasite immunity. The development of Th9 cells is facilitated by several cytokines. The key transcription factors, such as STAT6, STAT5, and PU.1, are known to enhance IL-9 expression within the Th9 immune response. NF-κB mediated transduction pathways participate in the induction of IL-9. In a previous study, we unveiled a unique ribosomal protein derived from Haemonchus contortus excretory-secretory proteins (HcESPs) that interact with host Th9 cells. In the present study, the influence of the Haemonchus contortus ribosomal protein L6 domain DE containing protein (HcL6) on IL-9 secretion, Th9 differentiation, and IL-9 transcription was assessed employing ELISA, flow cytometry, and qPCR methodologies. The observations revealed a transcriptional upregulation of several key genes within the Th9 immune response pathway. Moreover, the silencing of STAT6, PU.1, and NF-κB was found to attenuate the Th9 immune response. In this study, we unveiled the Th9 immune response-inducing capabilities of HcL6 and elucidated some of its underlying mechanisms. These findings suggest that HcL6 is an immunostimulatory antigen capable of inducing the Th9 immune response. These insights could prove instrumental in identifying potential candidate antigens for the development of immunoprophylactic strategies against H. contortus infections.