Actions of Interferons on Macrophages
Abstract
Mice intravenously infected with an immunizing dose of the gram- positive bacterium, Listeria monocytogenes, produced circulating interferon (IFN) during the inductive phase of the anti-Listeria immune response. In addition to inducing IFN, the Listeria also dramatically altered the host's responsiveness to IFN inducing agents. Within 24 hours of infection, mice acquired a 50-fold greater than normal capacity to produce the alpha and/or beta IFN classes (IFN alpha/Beta) following intravenous injection of endotoxin. Serum IFN alpha/beta levels peaked by 2 hours after which, high levels of gamma IFN (IFN gamma) were detected in the sera of Listerian-infected animals given the B cell mitogen. Similar studies carried out with the interferon inducing agent polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (Poly (I).Poly (C)) which, like endotoxin, induces peak levels of serum IFN 2 hours after intravenous injection, revealed that 24 hour infected mice produced only 4-8 times more IFNaplh/beta than non- infected mice. However, unlike endotoxin, Poly(I).Poly(C) did not elicit IFN gamma synthesis in Listeria-infected animals.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1985
- Accession Number
- ADA157006
Entities
People
- Edward A. Havell