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. 1994 Sep;62(9):3649–3654. doi: 10.1128/iai.62.9.3649-3654.1994

Cytokine gene expression in mice at an early stage of infection with various strains of Listeria spp. differing in virulence.

H Xiong 1, I Kawamura 1, T Nishibori 1, M Mitsuyama 1
PMCID: PMC303014  PMID: 8063381

Abstract

By using reverse transcription-PCR, cytokine gene expression was examined in mice 24 h after infection with various strains of Listeria spp. differing in virulence as determined by in vivo growth and 50% lethal dose values. All the virulent strains of Listeria monocytogenes induced the expression of mRNAs specific for interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), gamma interferon (IFN-gamma), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in the spleen of mice, while an L. monocytogenes strain incapable of producing listeriolysin O and strains of Listeria innocua induced the expression of TNF-alpha mRNA only. The levels of expression of IL-1 alpha and IFN-gamma mRNAs were proportional to the levels of listeriolysin O produced by each strain. Those strains which induced the expression of IFN-gamma were capable of generating protective immunity in the infected host, suggesting that the virulence-related induction of some cytokine at the initial stage of infection plays a role in the induction of acquired cellular resistance to L. monocytogenes.

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Selected References

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