Induction of interleukin-12 and gamma interferon requires tumor necrosis factor alpha for protective T1-cell-mediated immunity to pulmonary Cryptococcus neoformans infection.
The development of T1-cell-mediated immunity is required to clear a pulmonary Cryptococcus neoformans infection. The objective of these studies was to determine the mechanism by which tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) augments the development of pulmonary T1 immunity to C. neoformans infection. TNF-alpha expression was detected in lavage sample cells at days 2, 3, and 7 following C. neoformans infection. The numbers of CFU in the lung were not different between control and anti-TNF-alpha-treated mice at any time point examined during the afferent phase of the response (days 0 to 7). However, neutralization of TNF-alpha prevented the initiation of pulmonary clearance during the efferent phase of the response (day 14). Administration of anti-TNF-alpha monoclonal antibody (day 0) diminished the lung levels of TNF-alpha, interleukin-12 (IL-12), and gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) induced by C. neoformans at day 7 postinfection. Neutralization of TNF-alpha (day 0) also altered the IFN-gamma/IL-4 ratio in the lung-associated lymph nodes at day 7 following C. neoformans infection. Anti-TNF-alpha-treated mice developed a pulmonary eosinophilia at day 14 postinfection. Consistent with the pulmonary eosinophilia, anti-TNF-alpha-treated mice exhibited elevated serum immunoglobulin E and inhibition of the anticryptococcal delayed-type hypersensitivity response, indicating a shift toward a T2 response. Neutralization of IL-12 also prevented lung leukocyte production of IFN-gamma in response to the infection. These findings demonstrate that afferent-phase TNF-alpha production is essential for the induction of IL-12 and IFN-gamma and neutralization of early TNF-alpha results in a T2 shift of the T1/T2 balance of antifungal immunity.
Herring
Amy C
AC
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
Lee
John
J
McDonald
Roderick A
RA
Toews
Galen B
GB
Huffnagle
Gary B
GB
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000276:immunology*; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology / Q000382:microbiology; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma