Gamma interferon induces Fas-dependent apoptosis of Peyer's patch T cells in mice following peroral infection with Toxoplasma gondii.
Since we previously observed a remarkable decrease in the numbers of T cells in the Peyer's patches of the small intestines in C57BL/6 mice following peroral infection with Toxoplasma gondii, we performed studies to examine the mechanism(s) whereby this decrease in numbers of the T cells occurs. We found that apoptotic cell death of CD4+ and CD8+ alphabeta T cells occurred in Peyer's patches following infection. Upregulation of Fas expression was observed in these T cells. C57BL/6-background mutant mice which lack functional Fas antigen did not develop apoptosis in their Peyer's patches following infection. Treatment of infected C57BL/6 mice with anti-gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) monoclonal antibodies prevented the upregulation of Fas on their Peyer's patch T cells and inhibited the occurrence of apoptosis of these T cells. These results indicate that IFN-gamma induces Fas-dependent apoptosis in CD4+ and CD8+ alphabeta T cells in Peyer's patches in C57BL/6 mice following peroral infection with T. gondii.
Liesenfeld
O
O
Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Research Institute, Palo Alto Medical Foundation, California 94301, USA.
Kosek
J C
JC
Suzuki
Y
Y
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis; D005260:Female; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010581:Peyer's Patches / Q000473:pathology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000276:immunology*; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D019014:fas Receptor; D007371:Interferon-gamma