Naslov
Primary and secondary Listeria monocytogenes infection in virgin and pregnant perforin-deficient mice

Autori
Abram, Maja ; Vučković, Darinka ; Dorić, Miljenko ; Podack, Eckhard R. ; Rukavina, Daniel

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Izvornik
Periodicum biologorum / Vitale, Branko - Zagreb : Hrvatsko prirodoslovno društvo, 1998, 66-66

Skup
Fourth International Meeting "Mechanisms in Local Immunity" and joint meeting Fourth Meeting of Alps Adria Society for Immunology of Reproduction

Mjesto i datum
Opatija, Hrvatska, 16.09.1998. - 19.09.1998

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Poster

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
Listeria monocytogenes; perforin deficient mice; pregnancy

Sažetak
Listeria monocytogenes infection in mice offers a model for the investigation of immune mechanisms responsible for clearance of intracellular parasite infections. In primary Listeria infection protection is achieved through cytokines (IFN-gamma, TNF) crucially involved in activating microbicidal macrophages. However, in secondary infection protection is mediated primarily by CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes. In experimental models using perforin deficient (PKO) mice it has been shown recently that immunity against Listeria is compromised, particularly in secondary infection. Accordingly, in the protection against Listeria, like against noncytopathic viruses, cell cytotoxicity mediated by the cytolytic molecule perforin (P) plays an important role. Decidua of pregnancy is heavily infiltrated with P+ lymphocytes, in quantities much higher than any other tissue either in normal or pathological conditions. Furthermore, there is a general opinion that pregnancy in mammals is a TH2 phenomenon with the local (materno-fetal interface) prevalence of TH2 over TH1 cytokines, and TH1 suppression at the systemic level. We investigated the course of primary and secondary Listeria infection by following the kinetics of bacterial growth in liver and spleen of virgin and pregnant perforin sufficient (control; C57Bl/6), and perforin deficient C57Bl/6 mice. During primary infection in virgin, as well as in pregnant, perforin-deficient mice, the number of CFU (colony forming units) of Listeria isolated from spleens and particularly from livers, were markedly lower than in the wild type. In secondary infection, virgin PKO mice were found more susceptible than controls, according to the higher number of isolated microorganisms from their spleens. Special attention was given to the analysis of secondary listeriosis in pregnant PKO mice. We have examined the systemic response of pregnant mice by following the plasma levels of IFN-gamma, TNF-alfa, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, as well as local bacteriological, pathohistological and immunohistochemical findings in their livers, spleens and placentas.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Kliničke medicinske znanosti

POVEZANOST RADA