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Infect. Immun., 05 1997, 1748-1753, Vol 65, No. 5
Q Qian and JE Cutler
In vitro studies have suggested a role for interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) in
host defense against disseminated candidiasis, but in vivo studies are
inconclusive. We utilized homozygous IFN-gamma knockout (GKO) mice to
determine if the cytokine is essential in host defense against this
disease. Genotypes of mice were determined by PCR with specific primers for
the normal or disrupted IFN-gamma gene. The GKO status of the mice was
confirmed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, which showed no
detectable IFN-gamma produced by their splenocytes stimulated by
concanavalin A. To test the susceptibility of GKO mice to candidiasis, the
animals were infected either intravenously (i.v.) or intragastrically
(i.g.) with Candida albicans. GKO mice infected i.v. survived as long as
wild-type (WT) mice and showed no difference in Candida CFU counts in
liver, spleen, or kidneys compared to those for WT mice. When animals were
given Candida i.g., at 3 h or at 10 or 21 days after infection, there was
no dissemination of Candida to the lung, liver, spleen, or kidneys for
either GKO or WT mice. There was no difference in Candida CFU counts
recovered from the stomach or intestines between GKO and WT mice.
Histological examination of the stomach cardial-atrium fold, where the
fungus was located, showed that GKO mice did not have evidence of more
tissue damage or fungal invasion than WT mice. Finally, the jejunum for
both types of mice showed no evidence of tissue damage or fungal invasion.
These studies indicate that IFN-gamma is not essential in host defense
against C. albicans that originates from a mucosal site or that is given
directly into the bloodstream in a mouse model.
Copyright © 1997, American Society for Microbiology
Gamma interferon is not essential in host defense against disseminated candidiasis in mice
Department of Microbiology, Montana State University, Bozeman 59717, USA.
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