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Murine polymorphonuclear neutrophils produce interferon‐γ in response to pulmonary infection with Nocardia asteroides
Author(s) -
Ellis Terri N.,
Beaman Blaine L.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of leukocyte biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.819
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1938-3673
pISSN - 0741-5400
DOI - 10.1189/jlb.72.2.373
Subject(s) - biology , nocardia , immunology , cytokine , microbiology and biotechnology , granulocyte , infiltration (hvac) , bacteria , genetics , physics , thermodynamics
Nocardia asteroides causes an acute, necrotizing pneumonia characterized by extensive infiltration of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) into the lungs. Although PMNs have historically been classified as end‐point cells, recent investigations have indicated that PMNs have the ability to secrete cytokines such as interleukin (IL)‐4 and IL‐12. This study investigated the ability of PMNs to produce cytokines in a murine model of N. asteroides pulmonary infection. Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated the production of interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ), but not IL‐4, by PMNs in response to this infection. IFN‐γ production correlated with peak infiltration of PMNs into the lungs. Cell sorting and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay were used to confirm cytokine production by cells with nuclear morphology characteristic of PMNs. This is the first report of IFN‐γ production by neutrophils in response to an infection in vivo. These results suggest that PMNs play an important role in directing the host toward a T helper cell type 1 phenotypic response in the lungs.