| First Author | Kobayashi K | Year | 1998 |
| Journal | Clin Immunol Immunopathol | Volume | 88 |
| Issue | 3 | Pages | 226-31 |
| PubMed ID | 9743608 | Mgi Jnum | J:50007 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:1289726 | Doi | 10.1006/clin.1998.4533 |
| Citation | Kobayashi K, et al. (1998) The possible role of interleukin (IL)-12 and interferon-gamma-inducing factor/IL-18 in protection against experimental Mycobacterium leprae infection in mice. Clin Immunol Immunopathol 88(3):226-31 |
| abstractText | Cell-mediated immunity participates in host defense against mycobacterial infection. Both interleukin 12 (IL-12) and interferon-gamma-inducing factor (IGIF/IL-18), produced mainly by macrophages, play a critical role in expression of cell-mediated immunity. To investigate the role of IL-12 and IGIF/IL-18 in vivo, we examined cytokine profile, bacterial growth, and the potential benefit of cytokine therapy in susceptible and resistant mice infected with Mycobacterium leprae. The early expression of IL-12 p40 and IGIF/IL-18 at the site of inoculation was found in resistant mice 3-72 h after the infection, but not in susceptible mice. Both strains of mice did not show expression of IFN-gamma and IL-4. IL-12 administration resulted in a significant reduction of bacterial counts in mice with established M. leprae infection. The results imply that susceptible mice exhibit decreased expression of type 1 helper T (Th1) response without reciprocal increased Th2 response and show responsiveness to exogenous IL-12. IL-12 therapy may be a possible rationale for treatment of M. leprae infection. Copyright 1998 Academic Press. |
