| First Author | Taylor AP | Year | 1997 |
| Journal | J Exp Med | Volume | 185 |
| Issue | 7 | Pages | 1231-9 |
| PubMed ID | 9104810 | Mgi Jnum | J:40241 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:87584 | Doi | 10.1084/jem.185.7.1231 |
| Citation | Taylor AP, et al. (1997) Intracellular antimicrobial activity in the absence of interferon-gamma: effect of interleukin-12 in experimental visceral leishmaniasis in interferon-gamma gene-disrupted mice. J Exp Med 185(7):1231-9 |
| abstractText | Despite permitting uncontrolled intracellular visceral infection for 8 wk, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) gene knockout (GKO) mice infected with Leishmania donovani proceeded to reduce liver parasite burdens by 50% by week 12. This late-developing IFN-gamma-independent antileishmanial mechanism appeared to be dependent largely on endogenous tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha): L. donovani infection induced TNF-alpha mRNA expression in parasitized GKO livers and neutralization of TNF-alpha reversed control at week 12.7 d of treatment of infected GKO mice with interleukin-12 (IL-12) readily induced leishmanicidal activity and also partially restored the near-absent tissue granulomatous response, observations that for the first time expand the antimicrobial repertoire of IL-12 to include IFN-gamma-independent effects. The action of IL-12 against L. donovani was TNF-alpha dependent and required the activity of inducible nitric oxide synthase. These results point to the presence of an IFN-gamma-independent antimicrobial mechanism, mediated by TNF-alpha, which remains quiescent until activated late in the course of experimental visceral leishmaniasis. However, as judged by the effect of exogenous IL-12 this quiescent mechanism can readily be induced to rapidly yield enhanced intracellular antimicrobial activity. |
