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  • Title: Tumor necrosis factor-independent protective effect of recombinant IFN-gamma against acute toxoplasmosis in T cell-deficient mice.
    Author: Suzuki Y, Joh K, Kobayashi A.
    Journal: J Immunol; 1991 Oct 15; 147(8):2728-33. PubMed ID: 1918987.
    Abstract:
    rIFN-gamma conferred remarkable resistance against acute infection with Toxoplasma gondii in T cell-deficient (athymic nude) mice. Mice that received an i.p. injection of rIFN-gamma every other day beginning 24 h before infection for a total of eight doses survived significantly longer than untreated control mice although all of the treated mice died after the lymphokine was discontinued. Mice that received 14 doses of rIFN-gamma survived significantly longer than those that received eight doses of the lymphokine although mice started dying soon after the final (14th) injection of rIFN-gamma and eventually all of the treated mice died. Histologic study revealed that the IFN-gamma treatment prevented proliferation of the organisms in all organs examined, including brain, lung, heart, liver, and spleen. The treatment was effective even when started 1 day after infection. Peritoneal macrophages obtained from mice injected with rIFN-gamma were activated and effectively killed tachyzoites of T. gondii in vitro. TNF activity could not be detected in sera of the infected mice during treatment with rIFN-gamma. Administration of anti-TNF antibody did not affect the protective effect of rIFN-gamma against T. gondii infection. These facts indicate that rIFN-gamma can confer resistance to acute infection with T. gondii without collaboration of lymphokines derived from T cells and TNF. This suggests that rIFN-gamma may be effective for therapy of toxoplasmosis in immunosuppressed patients who have impaired activity of T cell function, especially those with AIDS.
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