Susceptibility of immunodeficient gene-knockout mice to urinary tract infection

Purpose: Clinical and experimental evidence indicates that mucosal immunity to urinary tract infection involves B and T-cell functions. The present st udy was conducted to assess the susceptibility of immunocompetent and immun odeficient mice with genetically engineered deletions in T and B-cell funct ions to experimentally induced urinary tract infections (UTI) with Escheric hia coli. Materials and Methods: Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-10, inducible nitric oxide synthase, T cell receptor (TCR) delta-chain a nd J(H)D B cell-deficient gene knockout mice and their immunocompetent cont rols were challenged with uropathogenic Escherichia coli. The bladders and kidneys were cultured for viable E. coli at time intervals after intraureth ral challenge to assess susceptibility to an experimentally induced UTI. Results: Knockout mice with gamma delta-T cell or IFN-gamma deficiencies we re more susceptible to UTI than immunocompetent mice or mice with immunodef iciencies in IL-10, IL-4, inducible nitric oxide synthase or antibody produ ction (JHD). Conclusions: These data support an important role for gamma delta-T cells a nd IFN-gamma in resistance to UTI in mice.