Abstract
Specific T-cell immunity to Listeria monocytogenes is thought to occur through the action of lymphokines which activate phagocytes to ingest and kill microorganisms. Interferon γ(IFN-γ) has been shown to be an effective mediator of this type of macrophage activation in vivo and in vitro. The monoclonal antibody H22.1 efficiently neutralizes endogenous IFN-γ, exacerbates disease in a mouse model of L. monocytogenes infection, and inhibits the in vivo protective activity of a Listeria antigen-specific CD4 T-cell line. In contrast, in vivo protection by Listeria-immune CD8 T cells is not inhibited by the neutralizing anti-IFN-γ monoclonal antibody. These results suggest that CD8 T cells can protect against an intracellular pathogen in an IFN-γ-independent manner.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 11612-11616 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |
| Volume | 89 |
| Issue number | 23 |
| State | Published - Dec 1 1992 |