Cytokine gene expression during infection of mice lacking CD4 and/or CD8 with Trypanosoma cruzi.
The expression of lymphokine genes during infection of virulent (Tulahuén) or mild (CA-I) strains of T. cruzi was studied in mice lacking CD4 and/or CD8 molecules. The increased susceptibility of CD4- and CD4-CD8- mice to infection with CA-I or Tulahuén was parallelled by diminished IFN-gamma mRNA levels. Nitric oxide release and inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA accumulation by cells from Tulahuén infected CD4- mice was also diminished. CD8- (but not CD4-CD8- mice) showed an increased IL-4 and IL-10 mRNA accumulation upon infection with both strains of T. cruzi. A 'Th2-like' response (higher IL-4 and IL-10 mRNA to IFN-gamma mRNA ratio), was also observed when cells from noninfected CD8- mice were stimulated with T cell mitogens.
Rottenberg
M E
ME
Laboratory of Immunology, Microbiology and Tumorbiology Center, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Sporrong
L
L
Persson
I
I
Wigzell
H
H
Orn
A
A
D000818:Animals; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000276:immunology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods
D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D016207:Cytokines; D009569:Nitric Oxide