Role of gamma interferon in the pathogenesis of bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia.
Gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) concentrations in blood, but not in lungs, rose significantly at 24 to 48 h after murine pulmonary infection with virulent pneumococci. In contrast, infection with avirulent pneumococcal strains produced minimal rises in serum IFN-gamma concentrations. Compared with that of immunocompetent mice, mortality was appreciably increased after pulmonary infection of IFN-gamma gene knockout mice, suggesting a protective role for IFN-gamma in host response to pneumococcal disease.
Rubins
J B
JB
Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55417, USA. rubin004@maroon.tc.umn.edu
Pomeroy
C
C
D000818:Animals; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000276:immunology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D011018:Pneumonia, Pneumococcal / Q000276:immunology*
D007371:Interferon-gamma