title: Prevention by gamma interferon of fatal infection with Listeria monocytogenes in mice treated with cyclosporin A.
abstract: The significance of interferons (IFNs) induced by Listeria monocytogenes in the antilisterial defense mechanism was studied in mice. Cyclosporin A (CsA) had no effect on IFN-alpha production that was induced in the bloodstream after intravenous infection of mice with L. monocytogenes, whereas IFN-gamma that was induced in the bloodstreams of control mice 6 h after stimulation with specific antigen in the late phase of infection was suppressed in CsA-treated mice, depending on the dose of the drug injected. The decrease in IFN-gamma production caused an increase in bacterial growth in the spleens and livers of CsA-treated mice. Furthermore, administration of a daily dose of CsA at 80 or 100 mg/kg of body weight resulted in fatal listeriosis, even though the dose was nonlethal for normal mice. The administration of recombinant murine IFN-gamma on day 0 of L. monocytogenes infection prevented CsA-treated mice from developing fatal listeriosis and restored their ability to produce IFN-gamma in the bloodstream, in response to specific antigen in the late phase of infection.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003524:Cyclosporins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology; D008088:Listeriosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051379:Mice; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003524:Cyclosporins; D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma