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Infection and Immunity, June 2000, p. 3322-3326, Vol. 68, No. 6
0019-9567/00/$04.00+0
Copyright © 2000, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Interleukin-6 Induces Early Gamma Interferon Production in the Infected Lung but Is Not Required for Generation of Specific Immunity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection

Bernadette M. Saunders,1,* Anthony A. Frank,2 Ian M. Orme,1 and Andrea M. Cooper1

Mycobacterial Research Laboratories, Department of Microbiology,1 and Department of Pathology,2 Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80523

Received 30 December 1999/Returned for modification 25 February 2000/Accepted 22 March 2000

Immunity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis is dependent upon the generation of a protective gamma interferon (IFN-gamma )-producing T-cell response. Recent studies have suggested that interleukin-6 (IL-6) is required for the induction of a protective T-cell response and that IL-4 may suppress the induction of IFN-gamma . To evaluate the role of the cytokines IL-6 and IL-4 in the generation of pulmonary immunity to M. tuberculosis, IL-6 and IL-4 knockout mice were infected with M. tuberculosis via aerosol. The absence of IL-6 led to an early increase in bacterial load with a concurrent delay in the induction of IFN-gamma . However, mice were able to contain and control bacterial growth and developed a protective memory response to secondary infection. This demonstrates that while IL-6 is involved in stimulating early IFN-gamma production, it is not essential for the development of protective immunity against M. tuberculosis. In contrast, while the absence of IL-4 resulted in increased IFN-gamma production, this had no significant effect upon bacterial growth.

* Corresponding author. Present address: Mycobacteria Research Laboratory, Centenary Institute of Cancer Medicine and Cell Biology, Locked Bag No 6, Camperdown, NSW 2042, Australia. Phone: 61-2-9565-6114. Fax: 61-2-9565-6101. E-mail address: B.Saunders{at}centenary.usyd.edu.au.

Infection and Immunity, June 2000, p. 3322-3326, Vol. 68, No. 6
0019-9567/00/$04.00+0
Copyright © 2000, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.


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