Protection of mice from Mycobacterium avium infection by recombinant interleukin-12.
Treatment with interleukin-12 (IL-12) significantly reduced the number of viable bacteria in mice infected with Mycobacterium avium. IL-12 itself, however, could not inhibit directly mycobacterial growth in vitro. IL-12 exerts antimycobacterial activity in vivo with a low level of toxicity, possibly by enhancing the host defense against the infection.
Kobayashi
K
K
First Department of Internal Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Kasama
T
T
Yamazaki
J
J
Hosaka
M
M
Katsura
T
T
Mochizuki
T
T
Soejima
K
K
Nakamura
R M
RM
D000818:Animals; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D005260:Female; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009162:Mycobacterium avium / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000628:therapy*
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D018664:Interleukin-12