Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 9, 2025

Dissecting Innate Immune Signaling in Viral Evasion of Cytokine Production
Published on: March 2, 2014
The Framework for Human Host Immune Responses to Four Types of Parasitic Infections and Relevant Key JAK/STAT
Tsung-Han Wen1, Kuo-Wang Tsai2, Yan-Jun Wu3
1Department of Anatomical Pathology, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, New Taipei City 231, Taiwan.
Abstract:
The human host immune responses to parasitic infections are complex. They can be categorized into four immunological pathways mounted against four types of parasitic infections. For intracellular protozoa, the eradicable host immunological pathway is TH1 immunity involving macrophages (M1), interferon gamma (IFNγ) CD4 T cells, innate lymphoid cells 1 (NKp44+ ILC1), CD8 T cells (Effector-Memory4, EM4), invariant natural killer T cells 1 (iNKT1) cells, and immunoglobulin G3 (IgG3) B cells. For intracellular protozoa, the tolerable host immunological pathway is TH1-like immunity involving macrophages (M2), interferon gamma (IFNγ)/TGFβ CD4 T cells, innate lymphoid cells 1 (NKp44- ILC1), CD8 T cells (EM3), invariant natural killer T 1 (iNKT1) cells, and immunoglobulin A1 (IgA1) B cells. For free-living extracellular protozoa, the eradicable host immunological pathway is TH22 immunity involving neutrophils (N1), interleukin-22 CD4 T cells, innate lymphoid cells 3 (NCR+ ILC3), iNKT17 cells, and IgG2 B cells. For free-living extracellular protozoa, the tolerable host immunological pathway is TH17 immunity involving neutrophils (N2), interleukin-17 CD4 T cells, innate lymphoid cells 3 (NCR- ILC3), iNKT17 cells, and IgA2 B cells. For endoparasites (helminths), the eradicable host immunological pathway is TH2a immunity with inflammatory eosinophils (iEOS), interleukin-5/interleukin-4 CD4 T cells, interleukin-25 induced inflammatory innate lymphoid cells 2 (iILC2), tryptase-positive mast cells (MCt), iNKT2 cells, and IgG4 B cells. For ectoparasites (parasitic insects and arachnids), the eradicable host immunological pathway is TH2b immunity with inflammatory basophils, chymase- and tryptase-positive mast cells (MCct), interleukin-3/interleukin-4 CD4 T cells, interleukin-33 induced nature innate lymphoid cells 2 (nILC2), iNKT2 cells, and immunoglobulin E (IgE) B cells. The tolerable host immunity against ectoparasites and endoparasites is TH9 immunity with regulatory eosinophils, regulatory basophils, interleukin-9 mast cells (MMC9), thymic stromal lymphopoietin induced innate lymphoid cells 2, interleukin-9 CD4 T cells, iNKT2 cells, and IgA2 B cells. In addition, specific transcription factors important for specific immune responses were listed. This JAK/STAT signaling is key to controlling or inducing different immunological pathways. In sum, Tfh is related to STAT5β, and BCL6 expression. Treg is related to STAT5α, STAT5β, and FOXP3. TH1 immunity is related to STAT1α, STAT4, and T-bet. TH2a immunity is related to STAT6, STAT1α, GATA1, and GATA3. TH2b immunity is related to STAT6, STAT3, GATA2, and GATA3. TH22 immunity is associated with both STAT3α and AHR. THαβ immunity is related to STAT1α, STAT1β, STAT2, STAT3β, and ISGF. TH1-like immunity is related to STAT1α, STAT4, STAT5α, and STAT5β. TH9 immunity is related to STAT6, STAT5α, STAT5β, and PU.1. TH17 immunity is related to STAT3α, STAT5α, STAT5β, and RORG. TH3 immunity is related to STAT1α, STAT1β, STAT2, STAT3β, STAT5α, STAT5β, and ISGF. This categorization provides a complete framework of immunological pathways against four types of parasitic infections. This framework as well as relevant JAK/STAT signaling can provide useful knowledge to control allergic hypersensitivities and parasitic infections via development of vaccines or drugs in the near future.
More Related Videos
11:21Forward Genetics Screens Using Macrophages to Identify Toxoplasma gondii Genes Important for Resistance to IFN-γ-Dependent Cell Autonomous Immunity
Published on: March 12, 2015
13:04An Introduction to Parasitic Wasps of Drosophila and the Antiparasite Immune Response
Published on: May 7, 2012
Related Concept Videos
The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway
Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...
Introduction to Innate and Adaptive Immunity
Innate immunity is the body's natural, nonspecific defense system that acts quickly to protect against pathogens. It incorporates physical barriers like skin and mucous membranes and cellular elements such as phagocytes and natural killer cells. This part of our immune system provides an immediate,...
Antigens Involved in Adaptive Immunity
Complete Antigens
Complete antigens possess both immunogenicity and...
cAMP-dependent Protein Kinase Pathways
Cells of the Innate Immune Response
Phagocytes
Phagocytes police the peripheral tissues by removing cellular debris and responding to the invasion of foreign substances or pathogens. Many phagocytes attack and remove microorganisms even before lymphocytes detect them. The human body has two general...