title: Activation of tuberculostatic macrophage functions by gamma interferon, interleukin-4, and tumor necrosis factor.
abstract: The capacity of the cytokines gamma interferon (IFN-gamma), interleukin-4 (IL-4), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) to activate tuberculostatic functions in murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMM phi) was investigated. In confirmation of earlier findings, IFN-gamma rendered BMM phi capable of inhibiting subsequent infection with Mycobacterium bovis. In contrast, IL-4 and TNF failed to inhibit mycobacterial growth. However, in already infected BMM phi, tuberculostasis was induced by subsequent stimulation with IL-4. Although TNF alone was ineffective, it showed synergy with IFN-gamma in the stimulation of tuberculostasis. Our data suggest that not only IFN-gamma but also IL-4 and TNF participate in the control of mycobacterial growth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ulm, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: I E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Flesch
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kaufmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells; D005260:Female; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009163:Mycobacterium bovis / Q000276:immunology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma