Interferon gamma derived from CD4(+) T cells is sufficient to mediate T helper cell type 1 development.
Interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) has been implicated in T helper type 1 (Th1) cell development through its ability to optimize interleukin 12 (IL-12) production from macrophages and IL-12 receptor expression on activated T cells. Various systems have suggested a role for IFN-gamma derived from the innate immune system, particularly natural killer (NK) cells, in mediating Th1 differentiation in vivo. We tested this requirement by reconstituting T cell and IFN-gamma doubly deficient mice with wild-type CD4(+) T cells and challenging the mice with pathogens that elicited either minimal or robust IL-12 in vivo (Leishmania major or Listeria monocytogenes, respectively). Th1 cells developed under both conditions, and this was unaffected by the presence or absence of IFN-gamma in non-T cells. Reconstitution with IFN-gamma-deficient CD4(+) T cells could not reestablish control over L. major, even in the presence of IFN-gamma from the NK compartment. These data demonstrate that activated T cells can maintain responsiveness to IL-12 through elaboration of endogenous IFN-gamma without requirement for an exogenous source of this cytokine.
Wakil
A E
AE
Department of Medicine and the Department of Microbiology/Immunology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, USA.
Wang
Z E
ZE
Ryan
J C
JC
Fowell
D J
DJ
Locksley
R M
RM
D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D018320:Leishmania major / Q000276:immunology; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000276:immunology; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology*
D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma