Gammadelta T cells are not essential for control of cutaneous Leishmania major infection in genetically resistant C57BL/6 mice.
As gammadelta T cells are believed to be involved in host defense against Leishmania major, the role of gammadelta T cells in immunity against this parasite was investigated. The growth of L. major was measured in alphabeta (T cell receptor [TCR] alpha -/-) and gammadelta (TCR delta -/-) TCR-deficient C57BL/6 mice and compared with growth in control (C57BL/6) mice. While TCR alpha -/- mice developed nonhealing lesions containing large numbers of parasites following L. major infection, TCR delta -/- and C57BL/6 mice effectively controlled the infection. Following in vitro stimulation, lymph node cells from C57BL/6 mice produced significantly more interferon (IFN)-gamma than those from TCR delta -/- mice during early and late phases of infection; however, both produced similar levels of IFN-gamma at postinfection week 6. Culture supernatants from both TCR delta -/- and C57BL/6 mice contained interleukin-4, at postinfection week 2 only. These results indicate that gammadelta CD3 T cells are not essential for mediating protection against cutaneous L. major infection in C57BL/6 mice.
Satoskar
A
A
Department of Tropical Public Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Okano
M
M
David
J R
JR
D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000235:genetics; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D018320:Leishmania major / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000276:immunology*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma