Journal
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
Volume 40, Issue 2, Pages 396-405Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1002/eji.200939583
Keywords
IFN-gamma; IL-18; Mouse; Neutrophils; Tuberculosis
Categories
Funding
- Medical Research Council, UK [G0700163]
- Medical Research Council [G0700163] Funding Source: researchfish
- MRC [G0700163] Funding Source: UKRI
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Tuberculosis remains the most hazardous bacterial infection worldwide. The causative agent, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is a facultative intracellular pathogen of resting M Phi. IFN-gamma secreted by natural killer, CD4 Th 1 and CD8 T cells upon instruction by IL-12 and -18 activates M(P to restrict mycobacterial growth. Production of both cytokines is induced by TLR signalling in DC and M Phi. Mice deficient for the TLR adaptor, MyD88, are highly susceptible to M. tuberculosis infection. Shared usage of MyD88 by signalling cascades for TLR and receptors for IL-1 and IL-18 prompted us to revisit the role of IL-18 during experimental infection with M. tuberculosis. We show that mice deficient for IL-18 and MyD88 but not for IL-18 receptor promptly succumbed to M. tuberculosis infection in contrast to WT or TLR-2/-4 double KC) mice indicating that lack of IL-18 contributes to the high susceptibility of MyD88 KO mice to M. tuberculosis. Without IL-18, the protective Th1 response was decreased and hence, mycobacterial propagation was favoured. Neutrophil-driven lung immunopathology concomitant with unrestrained growth of tubercle bacilli are most likely responsible for the premature death of IL-18 KO mice. Thus, IL-18 plays a decisive role in protective immunity against tuberculosis.
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