title: Cryptosporidium parvum infection after abrogation of natural killer cell activity in normal and severe combined immunodeficiency mice.
abstract: The role of natural killer (NK) cell activity in adult mice with severe combined immunodeficiency (scid mice) infected with Cryptosporidium parvum oocytes was evaluated. Adult BALB/c and scid mice were inoculated intragastrically with 10(6) C. parvum oocysts after the administration of anti-asialo-GM1 or control normal rabbit serum. Groups of animals were evaluated for splenic NK cell activity and examined histopathologically at 2, 4, and 6 wk postinfection. Virtual elimination of splenic NK cell activity by anti-asialo-GM1 treatment was demonstrated. Nonetheless, no differences in the occurrence of illness, death, or histopathologic evidence of infection were observed between anti-asialo-GM1-treated and control-treated BALB/c or scid mice. We conclude that NK cell activity, at least as measured in the spleen, does not play a significant role in murine host defense of cryptosporidial infection, even in the absence of functional B and T cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City.
authors.forename: V C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Rohlman
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Kuhls
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Mosier
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Greenfield
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000276:immunology*; D016785:Cryptosporidium parvum / Q000276:immunology*; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016513:Mice, SCID; D016511:Severe Combined Immunodeficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology