title: Role of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in clearance of primary pulmonary infection with Coxiella burnetii.
abstract: The mechanisms of the primary adaptive immune response to Coxiella burnetii are not well known. Following inoculation of the lungs with C. burnetii Nine Mile phase I (NMI), SCID mice developed pneumonia and splenomegaly and succumbed to infection, whereas wild-type mice cleared the infection by 24 days. SCID mice reconstituted with either CD4+ T cells or CD8+ T cells alone were able to control the infection, indicating that the presence of either type of T cells was sufficient to control infection, and B cells were not necessary for primary immunity. Similarly, wild-type mice depleted of either CD4+ T cells or CD8+ T cells controlled infections in their lungs, but these mice were highly susceptible if they were depleted of both types of T cells. However, compared to CD4+ T-cell-dependent protection, CD8+ T-cell-dependent protection resulted in less inflammation in the lungs and less growth of bacteria in the spleens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Molecular Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana 59717, USA.
authors.forename: Amanda J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Read
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Erickson
authors.forename: Allen G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Harmsen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D016997:Coxiella burnetii / Q000276:immunology*; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016513:Mice, SCID; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D011778:Q Fever / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology