Immune response in mice that lack the interferon-gamma receptor.
Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) exerts pleiotropic effects, including antiviral activity, stimulation of macrophages and natural killer cells, and increased expression of major histocompatibility complex antigens. Mice without the IFN-gamma receptor had no overt anomalies, and their immune system appeared to develop normally. However, mutant mice had a defective natural resistance, they had increased susceptibility to infection by Listeria monocytogenes and vaccinia virus despite normal cytotoxic and T helper cell responses. Immunoglobulin isotype analysis revealed that IFN-gamma is necessary for a normal antigen-specific immunoglobulin G2a response. These mutant mice offer the possibility for the further elucidation of IFN-gamma-mediated functions by transgenic cell- or tissue-specific reconstitution of a functional receptor.
Huang
S
S
Institute of Molecular Biology I, University of Zürich, Switzerland.
Hendriks
W
W
Althage
A
A
Hemmi
S
S
Bluethmann
H
H
Kamijo
R
R
Vilcek
J
J
Zinkernagel
R M
RM
Aguet
M
M
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D007109:Immunity; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000502:physiology*; D008088:Listeriosis / Q000276:immunology; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009154:Mutation; D017471:Receptors, Interferon / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D014615:Vaccinia / Q000276:immunology; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D014779:Virus Replication
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D017471:Receptors, Interferon; D007371:Interferon-gamma