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Interleukin‐12 primes CD4 + T cells for interferon‐γ production and protective immunity during Mycobacterium avium infection
Author(s) -
Silva Regina A.,
Flórido Manuela,
Appelberg Rui
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.297
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1365-2567
pISSN - 0019-2805
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2567.2001.01237.x
Subject(s) - immune system , biology , interferon gamma , spleen , cytokine , interleukin 12 , immunity , mycobacterium , immunology , population , microbiology and biotechnology , interleukin 4 , in vitro , virology , medicine , cytotoxic t cell , bacteria , biochemistry , genetics , environmental health
Summary Interleukin‐12 (IL‐12) is a crucial cytokine for the generation of a protective immune response against Mycobacterium avium infection. In contrast to infected control mice, IL‐12‐deficient mice were unable to control bacterial proliferation and their spleen T cells were almost unresponsive in vitro to specific antigens of M. avium . Susceptibility of mice deficient in IL‐12 was similar to that of interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ)‐deficient mice. These data indicate a crucial role of IL‐12 in the development of a T‐cell population able to produce IFN‐γ and to mediate protection against M. avium infection. Treatment of M. avium ‐infected mice with IL‐12 induced CD4 + T cells with enhanced capacity to produce IFN‐γ as well as to confer increased protection against M. avium .