Figure 4.
T. gondii induces rapid thymic atrophy in the absence of critical elements of the host-protective immune response. Profound loss of thymocytes during acute toxoplasma infection in (A) C57BL/6 mice deficient in the indicated immune components (B) C57BL/6 mice treated simultaneously with neutralizing anti-TNF, anti–IFN-γ, and anti–IL-6 antibody, or (C) RAG−/−, double IFN-γ−/− RAG−/− and triple p40 IL-12−/−IL-10−/−RAG−/− mice. Bars represent the mean ± SEM of thymocytes in uninfected mice (n = 3–6) or i.p. infected animals on day 8–10 after infection. Data are representative of one of at least two independent experiments performed. ***, P < 0.001.
