title: Interferon-gamma production and host protective response against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in mice lacking both IL-12p40 and IL-18.
abstract: Interferon (IFN)-gamma plays an essential role in host defense against infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and its synthesis is critically regulated by interleukin (IL)-12, IL-18 and the recently identified IL-23. The present study was designed to determine the roles of these cytokines in IFN-gamma-mediated host defenses against M. tuberculosis. For this purpose, we compared host protective responses in IL-12p40 and IL-18 double-knockout (DKO) mice (which lacked both IL-12/IL-18 and also IL-23) and IFN-gamma gene-disrupted (GKO) mice. DKO mice were more resistant to the infection than GKO mice, as indicated by their extended survival and reduced live colony numbers in spleen, liver and lung. IFN-gamma was detected by ELISA in liver and lung homogenates, but not in spleen and serum, and in all organs by RT-PCR in DKO mice at comparable or reduced levels to those in wild-type mice. IFN-gamma production was reduced by depletion of CD4+ T cells, but not of natural killer (NK), NKT, gammadeltaT and dendritic cells. Neutralization of IFN-gamma or TNF-alpha by specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) significantly shortened the survival time of the infected DKO mice. Furthermore, anti-TNF-alpha mAb partially attenuated IFN-gamma synthesis in the liver of these mice. Finally, the expression level of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA in the spleen, liver and lung was considerable in DKO mice but only marginal or undetected in GKO mice. Our results indicate the presence of IL-12-, IL-18- and IL-23-independent host protective responses against mycobacterial infection mediated by IFN-gamma, which was secreted from helper T cells.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Graduate School and Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, 207 Uehara, Nishihara, Okinawa, 903-0215, Japan. kawakami@med.u-ryukyu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kazuyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawakami
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kinjo
authors.forename: Kaori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uezu
authors.forename: Kazuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miyagi
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kinjo
authors.forename: Satomi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yara
authors.forename: Yoshinobu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Koguchi
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miyazato
authors.forename: Kazutoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shibuya
authors.forename: Yoichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Iwakura
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takeda
authors.forename: Shizuo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akira
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saito
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D053762:Interleukin-12 Subunit p40; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D053759:Interleukin-23; D053760:Interleukin-23 Subunit p19; D007378:Interleukins / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C508841:Il23a protein, mouse; D053762:Interleukin-12 Subunit p40; D020382:Interleukin-18; D053759:Interleukin-23; D053760:Interleukin-23 Subunit p19; D007378:Interleukins; D021122:Protein Subunits; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma