[Therapeutic effect of interleukin-12 on murine infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis through modulating Th1 and Th2 cytokine balance].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of IL-12 on cytokines of murine infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis.


METHODS
42 BALB/c mice infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis were randomized into normal control (PBS) and IL-12 (n = 21) groups, treated with PBS or IL-12 respectively. Blood level of IFN-gamma, IL-4, and IL-10 were detected with ELISA method. The numbers of viable bacteria in organs were counted. Survival rate after treatment was investigated.


RESULTS
In IL-12 group, none was dead. The numbers of viable bacteria in lung, liver and spleen were (227 +/- 107) x 10(5) cfu/ml, (4 +/- 3) x 10(5) cfu/ml and (1.5 +/- 0.5) x 10(5) cfu/ml respectively. INF-gamma (1,090 +/- 406) pg/ml. In PBS group, 8 mice were dead. The numbers of viable bacteria in lung, liver and spleen were (659 +/- 405) x 10(5) cfu/ml, (23 +/- 19) x 10(5) cfu/ml and (10.8 +/- 3.5) x 10(5) cfu/ml respectively. IFN-gamma (548 +/- 214) pg/ml. There was significant difference between those two groups. No change of the level of IL-4 in two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
IL-12 induced IFN-gamma production, promoted development of Th1 cell responses, modulated Th1 and Th2 cytokine balance, suggesting that IL-12 enhance the host defense against the infection.
Zhang
T
T
Department of Internal Medicine, 3rd Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510630, China.
Kawakami
K
K
Tang
Y
Y
D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology; D015996:Survival Rate; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000737:chemistry; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000737:chemistry; D013997:Time Factors; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality
D016207:Cytokines; D016753:Interleukin-10; D018664:Interleukin-12; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma