Interleukin-12 primes CD4(+) T cells for interferon-gamma production and protective immunity during Mycobacterium avium infection

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2001

Authors

Silva, RA (Author) Other; Florido, M (Author) Other; Appelberg, R (Author) ICBAS

Journal

Title: Immunology

Vol. 103

Pages: 368-374

ISSN: 0019-2805

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 22 Citations

Scopus - 27 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences > Basic medicine

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-000-V2G

DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2567.2001.01237.x

Abstract (EN): 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-gamma (IFN-gamma)-deficient mice. These data indicate a crucial role of IL-12 in the development of a T-cell population able to produce IFN-gamma 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-gamma as well as to confer increased protection against M/. avium.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 7