In:
The Journal of Immunology, The American Association of Immunologists, Vol. 168, No. 1 ( 2002-01-01), p. 372-378
Abstract:
To determine the role of endogenous IL-18 during pneumonia, IL-18 gene-deficient (IL-18−/−) mice and wild-type (WT) mice were intranasally inoculated with Streptococcus pneumoniae, the most common causative agent of community-acquired pneumonia. Infection with S. pneumoniae increased the expression of IL-18 mRNA and was associated with elevated concentrations of both precursor and mature IL-18 protein within the lungs. IL-18−/− mice had significantly more bacteria in their lungs and were more susceptible for progressing to systemic infection at 24 and 48 h postinoculation. Similarly, treatment of WT mice with anti-IL-18 was associated with enhanced outgrowth of pneumococci. In contrast, the clearance of pneumococci from lungs of IL-12−/− mice was unaltered when compared with WT mice. Furthermore, anti-IL-12 did not influence bacterial clearance in either IL-18−/− or WT mice. These data suggest that endogenous IL-18, but not IL-12, plays an important role in the early antibacterial host response during pneumococcal pneumonia.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0022-1767
,
1550-6606
DOI:
10.4049/jimmunol.168.1.372
Language:
English
Publisher:
The American Association of Immunologists
Publication Date:
2002
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1475085-5
