Np. Juffermans et al., Interleukin-1 signaling ts essential for host defense during murine pulmonary tuberculosis, J INFEC DIS, 182(3), 2000, pp. 902-908
Interleukin (IL)-1 signaling is required for the containment of infections
with intracellular microorganisms, such as Listeria monocytogenes and Leish
mania major. To determine the role of IL-1 in the host response to tubercul
osis, we infected IL-1 type I receptor-deficient (IL-1R(-/-)) mice, in whic
h IL-1 does not exert effects, with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. IL-1R(-/-)
mice were more susceptible to pulmonary tuberculosis, as reflected by an in
creased mortality and an enhanced mycobacterial outgrowth in lungs and dist
ant organs, which was associated with defective granuloma formation, contai
ning fewer macrophages and fewer lymphocytes, whereas granulocytes were abu
ndant. Lymphocytes were predominantly confined to perivascular areas, sugge
sting a defective migration of cells into inflamed tissue in the absence of
IL-1 signaling. Impaired host defense in IL-1R(-/-) mice was further chara
cterized by a decrease in the ability of splenocytes to produce interferon-
gamma, Analysis of these data suggests that IL-1 plays an important role in
the immune response to M. tuberculosis.