Interleukin-12 enhances murine survival against acute toxoplasmosis.

AUTOR(ES)

Khan, I A

RESUMO

Protective immunity against Toxoplasma gondii is mediated by the host cellular immune response. Interleukin-12 (IL-12), a recently described cytokine that stimulates NK cells to produce gamma interferon (IFN-gamma), is able to enhance host protection against this parasite in SCID mice. Administration of IL-12 to A/J mice significantly increased survival over that of control mice when IL-12 was delivered early in the course of acute infection. If it was administered at day 3 or thereafter, there was no observed difference in mortality between treated and control mice. Antibody depletion of IL-12 increased susceptibility to infection, as measured by mortality, only when the IL-12 was administered before day 3 postinfection. Mice treated with IL-12 at day 0 postinfection exhibited a significant rise above the control in both IL-2 and IFN-gamma production. Once infection has been established in the host (3 days), administration of exogenous IL-12 is unable to alter parasite-induced downregulation of IFN-gamma production. Thus, IL-12 appears to play an important, but transitory, role in protection against acute infection with T. gondii in the normal murine host.

Documentos Relacionados

• Treatment with interleukin 12 in combination with atovaquone or clindamycin significantly increases survival of mice with acute toxoplasmosis.
• Intranasal Immunization with Recombinant Lactococcus lactis Secreting Murine Interleukin-12 Enhances Antigen-Specific Th1 Cytokine Production
• Unusual ocular presentation of acute toxoplasmosis.
• Protective Effect of Vaccination with a Combination of Recombinant Surface Antigen 1 and Interleukin-12 against Toxoplasmosis in Mice
• Activity of trovafloxacin in combination with other drugs for treatment of acute murine toxoplasmosis.