This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Asano, M Articles by Minagawa, T Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Asano, M Articles by Minagawa, T

Endogenous gamma interferon is essential in granuloma formation induced by glycolipid-containing mycolic acid in mice.

Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.

ABSTRACT

The present study examined the role of endogenous gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) in the formation of granulomas in mice which had been given a single intravenous injection of glycolipid-containing mycolic acid (trehalose 2,3,6'-trimycolate) purified from cell walls of Rhodococcus aurantiacus (Gordona aurantiaca) (GaGM) in the form of liposome. The histological status of granuloma formation in the livers, spleens, and lungs of GaGM-injected mice was studied at weeks 1 through 5, and the titers of endogenous IFN-gamma in all of these organ extracts and in the sera were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The granulomas, composed of epithelioid cells, developed until 3 weeks postinjection, and thereafter the granulomas regressed. The production of endogenous IFN-gamma was biphasic, with an early phase detected at days 1 through 3 and a late phase detected at weeks 1 through 5. The latter peak of endogenous IFN-gamma production proceeded in parallel with granuloma formation. Both the areas of granulomas and titers of IFN-gamma in these organs were dependent on the doses of GaGM used for injection. The cells which produce endogenous IFN-gamma in the spleens appear within the granulomas. To study the role of endogenous IFN-gamma in granuloma formation, the in vivo administration of rat anti-mouse IFN-gamma monoclonal antibody was carried out. Anti-mouse IFN-gamma monoclonal antibody neutralized endogenous IFN-gamma and resulted in the suppression of the number of granulomas and the size of each granuloma. These findings suggest that biphasic production of endogenous IFN-gamma in the local lesions may be crucial to the formation and development of the granulomas.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• KOHANAWA, Y. M., SATO, Y., MINAGAWA, T. (2001). Role of T cells in granuloma formation induced by Rhodococcus aurantiacus is independent of their interferon-gamma production. J Med Microbiol 50: 688-694 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Saita, N., Fujiwara, N., Yano, I., Soejima, K., Kobayashi, K. (2000). Trehalose 6,6'-Dimycolate (Cord Factor) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Induces Corneal Angiogenesis in Rats. Infect. Immun. 68: 5991-5997 [Abstract] [Full Text]