Transfer of a CD4+ Th1 cell line to nude mice effects clearance of Rhodococcus equi from the lung.
Rhodococcus equi, and intracellular respiratory pathogen, causes sever e granulomatous pneumonia in humans with AIDS and in young horses. Pulmonary clearance of R. equi requires functional CD4+ T cells and gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) expression from bronchial lymph node cells. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether R. equi-specific CD4+ Th1 cells could effect clearance of R. equi from the lung. Adoptive transfer of a clearance of R. equi from the lungs. In contrast, mice transfused with a R. equi-specific CD4+ Th2 cell line expressed interleukin-4 but not IFN-gamma mRNA, failed to clear pulmonary infection, and developed granulomas in the lung. Control mice, which did not receive cells, did not produce IFN-gamma or interleukin-4 and developed small pulmonary granulomas. These results clearly show that a Th1 response is sufficient to effect pulmonary clearance of R. equi.
Kanaly
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Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.
Hines
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SA
Palmer
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D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D016219:Immunotherapy, Adoptive; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D016929:Rhodococcus equi / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger