Susceptibility of immunodeficient gene-knockout mice to urinary tract infection.
OBJECTIVE
Clinical and experimental evidence indicates that mucosal immunity to urinary tract infection involves B and T-cell functions. The present study was conducted to assess the susceptibility of immunocompetent and immunodeficient mice with genetically engineered deletions in T and B-cell functions to experimentally induced urinary tract infections (UTI) with Escherichia coli.


METHODS
Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-10, inducible nitric oxide synthase, T cell receptor (TCR) delta-chain and JHD B cell-deficient gene knockout mice and their immunocompetent controls were challenged with uropathogenic Escherichia coli. The bladders and kidneys were cultured for viable E. coli at time intervals after intraurethral challenge to assess susceptibility to an experimentally induced UTI.


RESULTS
Knockout mice with gammadelta-T cell or IFN-gamma deficiencies were more susceptible to UTI than immunocompetent mice or mice with immunodeficiencies in IL-10, IL-4, inducible nitric oxide synthase or antibody production (JHD).


CONCLUSIONS
These data support an important role for gammadelta-T cells and IFN-gamma in resistance to UTI in mice.
Jones-Carson
J
J
Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison 53792-3236, USA.
Balish
E
E
Uehling
D T
DT
D000818:Animals; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout / Q000276:immunology*; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000276:immunology*