title: Effects of recombinant murine (rm) interleukin-12 and rm interferon-gamma in mice infected with Bordetella pertussis.
abstract: The recombinant cytokines interferon (IFN)-gamma and interleukin (IL)-12 stimulate several macrophage-mediated functions that are important in host defense. An experimental pertussis model showed that intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of 10,000 U of recombinant murine (rm) IFN-gamma to mice at the time of Bordetella pertussis infection caused a marked and significant reduction in the number of colony-forming units of bacteria in the lungs. Administration i.p. of 1 microgram of rmIL-12 or 1 microgram of rmIL-12 at the time of and for 5 consecutive days after B. pertussis challenge also induced a significant reduction in the number. However, i.p. administration of 1 microgram of rmIL-12 with 10,000 U of IFN-gamma at the time of B. pertussis challenge did not provide protection. These findings indicate that exogenous administration of rmIL-12 and rmIFN-gamma enhances resistance of mice to B. pertussis infection.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Regional Hospital, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Torre
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Speranza
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pugliese
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Perversi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marone
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferrario
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051379:Mice; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma