The progression of chronic tuberculosis in the mouse does not require the participation of B lymphocytes or interleukin-4.
The aging process is associated with alterations in the immune system. Some of the changes reported are an increase in the proportion of B lymphocytes, and a shift to a TH2-like cytokine environment. It has been hypothesized that the development of immunopathology within the lung during tuberculosis is linked to increased interleukin-4 (IL-4) production. In addition, a role for B cells in maintaining granuloma integrity has been recently proposed. This study investigated the role of B cells and IL-4 during the long-term course of chronic tuberculosis in mice and showed that the course of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in the lungs was not influenced by the absence of B lymphocytes or the TH2 cytokine IL-4.
Department of Microbiology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA. jturner@cvmbs.colostate.edu
J
J
Turner
A A
AA
Frank
J V
JV
Brooks
M
M
Gonzalez-Juarrero
I M
IM
Orme
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*
D015847:Interleukin-4