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. 1995 Feb;63(2):534–538. doi: 10.1128/iai.63.2.534-538.1995

Cytokine expression in the liver during the early phase of murine tularemia.

I Golovliov 1, G Sandström 1, M Ericsson 1, A Sjöstedt 1, A Tärnvik 1
PMCID: PMC173028  PMID: 7822019

Abstract

Cytokine expression was determined in the livers of mice inoculated subcutaneously with Francisella tularensis LVS. During the first 48 h of infection, there was a logarithmic increase of bacteria in the liver, with a doubling time of 2.5 h. Within 48 h, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin 10 (IL-10), IL-12, and gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) mRNAs were expressed, and production of TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma was demonstrated. There was no expression within 96 h of mRNA from IL-2, IL-3, or IL-4. After subcutaneous inoculation of heat-killed LVS, no expression of any of the cytokine mRNAs and no increase in the levels of TNF-alpha or IFN-gamma occurred. The expression of TNF-alpha, IL-12, and IFN-gamma is held to be important to evoke an early T-cell-independent host defense against F. tularensis as well as to drive the expansion of a protective Th1 cell response.

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Selected References

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