title: Evidence for a role of IFN gamma in control of Listeria monocytogenes in T cell deficient mice.
abstract: The role of interferon (IFN) gamma in controlling chronic infections of Listeria monocytogenes (Listeria) was studied in athymic C57BL/6 nu/nu mice, and by treating thymectomized C57BL/6 +/+ mice with monoclonal rat CD4 and CD8-specific monoclonal antibodies (Mab). Mice treated with a combination of the two T cell subset antibodies were similar to athymic, nude mice in being able to control Listeria infection, keeping the titers below 3-5 log10 bacteria per organ, but they could not eliminate them completely. Treatment with antibodies to IFN gamma of nude or CD4+ + CD8+ - T cell-depleted mice suffering from chronic Listeria infection caused a marked increase of Listeria titers in liver and spleen. This result implies a role of IFN gamma in maintaining anti-Listeria resistance in mice lacking mature T cells.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Pathologie, Universitätsspital Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Leist
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meager
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Exley
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Zinkernagel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008088:Listeriosis / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008819:Mice, Nude; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology; D013934:Thymectomy
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007371:Interferon-gamma