Early gamma interferon mRNA expression is associated with resistance of mice against Yersinia enterocolitica.
T cells in cooperation with macrophages play an important role in resolution of primary Yersinia enterocolitica infection in mice. Previous work from this laboratory demonstrated that gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) are essential mediators of these processes. In an attempt to elucidate early mechanisms of resistance, we investigated cytokine mRNA production, including that for interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma, after primary as well as secondary Y. enterocolitica infection in Yersinia-susceptible BALB/c mice and Yersinia-resistant C57BL/6 mice. In both strains of mice, proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha were expressed rapidly and to comparable degrees, while IFN-gamma expression was enhanced two- to eightfold in C57BL/6 mice, as revealed by semiquantitative reverse transcription PCR. Similar results were found in both mouse strains after secondary Y. enterocolitica infection. IL-2 mRNA was detected only during secondary infection and disappeared rapidly in BALB/c mice. IL-4 mRNA expression was detectable in C57BL/6 but not BALB/c mice. The levels of cytokine mRNA expression correlated closely with the number of injected bacteria. The findings reported here support the hypothesis that early and enhanced production of IFN-gamma may be associated with a state of heightened resistance against Y. enterocolitica infection.
Bohn
E
E
Institut für Hygiene und Mikrobiologie, Universität Würzburg, Germany.
Heesemann
J
J
Ehlers
S
S
Autenrieth
I B
IB
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015009:Yersinia Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D015008:Yersinia enterocolitica / Q000276:immunology*
D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007371:Interferon-gamma