Interleukin 17 modulates the immune response to vaccinia virus infection.
Interleukin 17 (IL-17) is a newly identified cytokine that has a homolog in herpesvirus saimiri. We inserted murine IL-17 into vaccinia virus to study the role of IL-17 in viral infection. Vaccinia virus expressing IL-17 (vv-IL17) and its parental control virus (vv-pRB) grew to similar titers in vitro; however, vv-IL17 was more virulent in mice with a threefold lower LD(50) than for vv-pRB, and mean time to death of 2.8 days versus 4.5 days. Mice infected with vv-IL17 had higher titers of virus in the ovaries (P < 0.02) and showed a decrease in NK cell cytotoxicity (P < 0.02) on day 3 after infection. No significant difference was found in CTL activity. In addition, a significant decrease in IgG2a (P < 0.01) and increases in IgG1, IgG3, and IgA (P < 0.03) vaccinia virus-specific antibody titers were observed in mice infected with vv-IL17 versus vv-pRB, suggesting a Th-2-like response to infection. These data indicate that IL-17 modulates the immune response during virus infection.
Patera
Andriani C
AC
Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
Pesnicak
Lesley
L
Bertin
John
J
Cohen
Jeffrey I
JI
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010053:Ovary / Q000821:virology; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors; D014615:Vaccinia / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality; D014616:Vaccinia virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014774:Virulence
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D020381:Interleukin-17