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  • Title: The study of Mycobacterium leprae infection in interferon-gamma gene--disrupted mice as a model to explore the immunopathologic spectrum of leprosy.
    Author: Adams LB, Scollard DM, Ray NA, Cooper AM, Frank AA, Orme IM, Krahenbuhl JL.
    Journal: J Infect Dis; 2002 Feb 15; 185 Suppl 1():S1-8. PubMed ID: 11865434.
    Abstract:
    Mycobacterium leprae infection was evaluated in interferon-gamma knockout (GKO) mice. At 4 months, growth of the bacilli in the footpads of GKO mice plateaued a log(10) higher than that in control mice. Control mice exhibited mild lymphocytic and histiocytic infiltrates, whereas GKO mice developed large, unorganized infiltrates of epithelioid macrophages and scattered CD4 and CD8 T cells. Flow cytometric analysis of popliteal lymph node cells demonstrated similar profiles of T cells; however, GKO cells exhibited an elevated proliferative response to M. leprae antigen. Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA was decreased in GKO mice, whereas macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha and interleukin-4 and -10 mRNA expression were augmented. Control and GKO activated macrophages inhibited bacterial metabolism and produced nitrite. Thus, although deficient in an important Th1 cytokine, GKO mice possess compensatory mechanisms to control M. leprae growth and feature elements resembling mid-borderline leprosy in humans.
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