T cell cytokine synthesis at the single-cell level in BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice infected with ectromelia virus.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of the study was to evaluate synthesis of IFN-γ, IL-2, TNF-α (Th1/Tc1) and IL-4 (Th2/Tc2) at CD4+ T and CD8+ T cell level in BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice in the course of infection with ectromelia virus Moscow strain (ECTV-MOS).


METHODS
Synthesis of IFN-γ, IL-2, TNF-α and IL-4 in CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells in draining lymph nodes (DLNs) and spleens of BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice was detected by intracellular staining and flow cytometry analysis.


RESULTS
Our results showed an increase in percentage of IFN-γ -synthesizing CD8+ T cells only in DLNs and spleens of C57BL/6 mice at the early stages of infection. Moreover, synthesis of IL-2 by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells occurred earlier and was stronger in C57BL/6 mice compared to BALB/c mice. The increase in TNF-α synthesis by CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells was detected mainly in DLNs of infected animals. We did not observe any changes in the percentage of IL-4-synthesizing T cells (Th2 and Tc2) during ECTV-MOS infection in both strains of mice.


CONCLUSIONS
Results presented in this study confirmed that during the early phase of infection, C57BL/6 mice mounted a strong Th1 and Tc1 immune response against ECTV-MOS. BALB/c mice that survived the acute stage of mousepox, were able to mount an adequate cellular response to ECTV-MOS, however successful elimination of the virus in susceptible mice may occur more slowly compared to resistant strains of mice. Intracellular detection of IL-4 by flow cytometry was not sensitive enough to distinguish the differences in IL-4-synthesizing Th2 and Tc2 cells between susceptible and resistant strains of mice during ECTV-MOS infection.
Division of Immunology, Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Poland. lidia_szulc@sggw.pl
Lidia
L
Szulc
Małgorzata
M
Gieryńska
Anna
A
Winnicka
Lech
L
Martyniszyn
Anna
A
Boratyńska-Jasińska
Marek
M
Niemiałtowski
D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004481:Ectromelia virus / Q000276:immunology; D004482:Ectromelia, Infectious / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis
D016207:Cytokines; D000939:Epitopes; D007376:Interleukin-2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma