Relationships between IFNgamma, IL-6, corticosterone, and Listeria monocytogenes pathogenesis in BALB/c mice.
The relationships between Listeria monocytogenes (LM) pathogenesis, based on bacterial load, and serum levels of IL-6, IFNgamma, and corticosterone (CORT) were quantified. Serum IFNgamma levels increased along with the LM burden; however, with LM burdens > or =3 x 10(6) CFU per spleen, the serum IFNgamma level decreased along with a decrease in splenic weight. Serum IL-6 levels exponentially increased with increases of LM, and the CORT level positively correlated with the increase in IL-6 and LM. The serum level of IFNgamma appeared to be a good biomarker of the host's ability to combat the infection only when the LM burden did not exceed a critical level (>3 x 10(6) CFU per spleen). Interestingly, the LM load at which the IFNgamma level began to decline was near the dose at which the IL-6 concentration exponentially increased, suggesting a transition point shift from stress (assessed as CORT level) being immunoenhancing to becoming immunosuppressive. The IL-6:IFNgamma ratio may be a good indicator of disease severity and/or the ability to cope with an infection.
Kim
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Wadsworth Center, NYDOH, Albany, New York 12201-0509, USA.
Reilly
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Lawrence
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D000818:Animals; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity; D008088:Listeriosis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009929:Organ Size; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology
D015850:Interleukin-6; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D003345:Corticosterone