CYTOKINE EXPRESSION IN THE LIVER OF MICE INFECTED WITH A HIGHLY VIRULENT-STRAIN OF FRANCISELLA-TULARENSIS

Cytokine mRNA expression was determined in the liver of mice subcutane ously inoculated with a lethal dose of the highly virulent strain FSC 041 of Francisella tularensis subvar. tularensis or a sublethal dose o f the live vaccine strain of F. tularensis subvar. palaearctica. Expre ssion of mRNA for TNF-alpha, IL-12, IFN-gamma, and IL-10 was demonstra ted within 48 h of inoculation, the kinetics being similar irrespectiv e of bacterial strain used. Thus. the expression of a cytokine respons e believed to be important in the early host defence against live vacc ine strain seemed insufficient to prevent the lethality of a more viru lent strain.