References
Query Results -- Details
MGI Accession ID: MGI:893972
J Number: J:41494
Other Accession IDs:
Title: Interleukin 12 (IL-12) is crucial to the development of protective immunity in mice intravenously infected with mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Authors: Cooper AM; Magram J; Ferrante J; Orme IM
Journal: J Exp Med
Volume: 186
Issue: 1
Date: 1997 Jul 7
Year: 1997
Pages: 39-45
Review Status: Peer Reviewed
Abstract:
Immunity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection is associated with the emergence of protective CD4 T cells that secrete cytokines, resulting in activation of macrophages and the recruitment of monocytes to initiate granuloma formation. The cytokine-mediating macrophage activation is interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), which is largely dependent on interleukin-12 (IL-12) for its induction. To address the role of IL-12 in immunity to tuberculosis, IL-12 p40(-/-) mice were infected with M. tuberculosis and their capacity to control bacterial growth and other characteristics of their immune response were determined. The IL-12 p40(-/-) mice were unable to control bacterial growth and this appeared to be linked to the absence of both innate and acquired sources of IFN-gamma. T cell activation as measured by delayed type hypersensitivity and lymphocyte accumulation at the site of infection were both markedly reduced in the IL-12 p40(-/-) mice. Therefore, IL-12 is essential to the generation of a protective immune response to M. tuberculosis, with its main functions being the induction of the expression of IFN-gamma and the activation of antigen-specific lymphocytes capable of creating a protective granuloma.
Additional Information:
