ROLE OF INTERLEUKIN-6 IN T-CELL ACTIVATION DURING PRIMARY AND SECONDARY INFECTION WITH LISTERIA-MONOCYTOGENES

Injection of recombinant interleukin-6 (IL-6) into mice enhances recov ery from infection with Listeria monocytogenes. Ln this study, the rol e of IL-6 during primary and secondary Listeria infection was further tested. Neutralization of IL-6 by polyclonal antibody exacerbated prim ary infection and significantly delayed gamma interferon production by cultured spleen cells. Fn contrast, administration of anti-IL-6 antib ody at the time of secondary infection did not affect the recovery of mice from infection or gamma interferon production, showing that activ ated T cells are not dependent on IL-6.