Open AccessRoles of endogenous cytokines in liver apoptosis of mice in lethal Listeria monocytogenes infection
Author(s) -
Miura Tomisato,
Nishikawa Shinsuke,
Sasaki Sanae,
Yamada Kyogo,
Hasegawa Suguru,
Mizuki Daisuke,
Mizuki Mayuko,
Hatayama Ichiro,
Sekikawa Kenji,
Tagawa Yohichi,
Iwakura Yoichiro,
Nakane Akio
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-695x.2000.tb01495.x
Subject(s) - apoptosis , biology , listeria monocytogenes , tumor necrosis factor alpha , spleen , immunology , listeria infection , necrosis , endogeny , cytokine , monoclonal antibody , interferon , interleukin , ratón , microbiology and biotechnology , antibody , listeria , endocrinology , bacteria , biochemistry , genetics
Various bacterial pathogens have been identified as mediators of apoptosis. Apoptosis reportedly shows both detrimental and beneficial effects on biological functions. We studied the role of liver apoptosis in lethal Listeria monocytogenes infection and the regulation of apoptosis by endogenous cytokines during infection. Apoptosis was observed in the spleen but not in the liver of infected mice, whereas the induction of liver necrosis was evident by rising levels of serum aminotransferases in these animals. Apoptosis was detected in the liver of L. monocytogenes ‐infected mice which had been treated with monoclonal antibody (mAb) against tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) or interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), or in TNF‐α −/− mice, but not in γ‐ interferon (IFN‐γ) −/− mice or mice which had been treated with mAb against IL‐4 or IL‐10. Augmentation of liver apoptosis in mice treated with mAb against TNF‐α or IL‐6 or in TNF‐α −/− mice correlated with the increase in bacterial numbers in the organ, while no augmentation of apoptosis was observed in the liver of IFN‐γ −/− mice irrespective of the marked increase in bacterial numbers in the organs, indicating that augmentation of liver apoptosis may not be merely due to the increase in bacterial growth in the organs. These results suggest that TNF‐α and IL‐6 may play an important role in protecting the liver from apoptosis in lethal L. monocytogenes infection.