New rat model of Pneumocystis pneumonia induced by anti-CD4(+) T-lymphocyte antibodies.
The CD4(+) T lymphocyte plays a central role in host defense against Pneumocystis pneumonia but has received only limited attention in rats. CD4(+) T-cell-depleting (OX-38) and nondepleting (W3/25) monoclonal antibodies, which recognize an identical or adjacent epitope, were administered for up to 14 weeks to Lewis rats that had been exposed to PNEUMOCYSTIS: While OX-38 produced a greater decrease in circulating CD4(+) cells than W3/25, both antibody treatments resulted in similar effects on the health of the rats and the levels of Pneumocystis pneumonia, which were milder than those found with corticosteroids. W3/25 also did not enhance the severity of Pneumocystis pneumonia achieved with corticosteroids alone. We conclude that CD4(+) cell function is more important than CD4(+) cell number in host defense against Pneumocystis in the rat and that this new model permits study of opportunistic infections in the rat without the confounding effects of corticosteroids.
Thullen
Timothy D
TD
Veterans Affairs Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45220, USA.
Ashbaugh
Alan D
AD
Daly
Kieran R
KR
Linke
Michael J
MJ
Steele
Paul E
PE
Walzer
Peter D
PD
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology*; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008297:Male; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000209:etiology*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal