Open AccessKinetics of cytokine expression in mice with invasive aspergillosis: lethal infection and protection
Author(s) -
CentenoLima Sónia,
Silveira Henrique,
Casimiro Catarina,
Aguiar Pedro,
Rosário Virgílio E.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-695x.2002.tb00549.x
Subject(s) - spleen , biology , aspergillus fumigatus , aspergillosis , immunology , interferon gamma , immunity , cytokine , tumor necrosis factor alpha , immune system , immunization
Aspergillus fumigatus causes lethal invasive aspergillosis in cortisone‐treated mice while immunized mice are protected. Kinetics of interferon (IFN)‐γ, tumor necrosis factor‐α, interleukin (IL)‐12p40, IL‐4 and IL‐10 expression were assessed by reverse transcription‐PCR in the spleen and lungs of mice. After immunization, mice were protected from otherwise lethal infection, with concomitant high expression levels of IFN‐γ early in the lungs and later in the spleen. In the lethal infection model cortisone‐treated infected mice presented high expression levels of IL‐10 in the spleen and in the lungs. Immunocompetent mice were able to control the disease and presented earlier expression of IL‐12p40 and IFN‐γ in lungs and spleen. These results confirm the importance of Th1 dependent immunity against invasive aspergillosis.