Reduction in intensity of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in mice by aerosol administration of gamma interferon

JM Beck, HD Liggitt, EN Brunette, HJ Fuchs… - Infection and …, 1991 - Am Soc Microbiol
JM Beck, HD Liggitt, EN Brunette, HJ Fuchs, JE Shellito, RJ Debs
Infection and immunity, 1991Am Soc Microbiol
Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in patients with AIDS may result from impaired local
release of gamma interferon from lung lymphocytes and subsequent failure of macrophage
activation. We tested this hypothesis with mice rendered immunodeficient by selective
depletion of CD4+ lymphocytes and inoculated intratracheally with P. carinii. After aerosol
administration of recombinant murine gamma interferon, the intensity of P. carinii infection in
these mice was reduced in comparison with that in mice not treated with gamma interferon …
Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in patients with AIDS may result from impaired local release of gamma interferon from lung lymphocytes and subsequent failure of macrophage activation. We tested this hypothesis with mice rendered immunodeficient by selective depletion of CD4+ lymphocytes and inoculated intratracheally with P. carinii. After aerosol administration of recombinant murine gamma interferon, the intensity of P. carinii infection in these mice was reduced in comparison with that in mice not treated with gamma interferon. Histologic scoring of lung tissue did not reveal additional pulmonary inflammation attributable to gamma interferon. Aerosol administration of gamma interferon may reduce the intensity of P. carinii infection by augmentation of host defense, despite persistent CD4+ lymphocyte depletion.
American Society for Microbiology