Cytokines involved in resistance to mycobacterium avium in a mouse model of infection

ABSTRACT

To determine the role played by different cytokines in the induction or expression of protective immunity to Mycobacterium avium we administered neutralizing monoclonal antibodies specific for those cytokines to mice infected with a clinical isolate of M. avium. Our results showed that interleukin [IL]-6 and IL-12 are involved in the induction of T cell-dependent immunity and that such immunity was mediated by interferon-gamma [IFN-gamma] and tumour necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-alpha]. Also, induction of innate immunity required IL-12 and was expressed through the secretion of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha