MICE LACKING THE MURINE INTERLEUKIN-8 RECEPTOR HOMOLOG DEMONSTRATE PARADOXICAL RESPONSES TO ACUTE AND CHRONIC EXPERIMENTAL-INFECTION WITH LISTERIA-MONOCYTOGENES

In this study we demonstrate that mice which lack the murine interleuk in-8 receptor homologue exhibit enhanced resistance during the early s tage of infection (1-4 days after i.v. challenge with Listeria monocyt ogenes). This result is surprising in that interleukin-8 and other CXC chemokines are key players in the accumulation of inflammatory neutro phils, which is thought to be critical for resistance to listeriosis. Paradoxically, some of the interleukin-8 receptor knockout mice that s urvived acute infection with L. monocytogenes demonstrated evidence of chronic infection with L. monocytogenes. (C) 1998 Academic Press Limi ted.