Respiratory tract infection with Mycoplasma pneumoniae in interleukin-12 knockout mice results in improved bacterial clearance and reduced pulmonary inflammation

C. M. Salvatore, M. Fonseca-Aten, K. Katz-Gaynor, A. M. Gomez, A. Mejias, C. Somers, S. Chavez-Bueno, G. H. McCracken, R. D. Hardy

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a leading cause of pneumonia and is associated with asthma. Evidence links M. pneumoniae respiratory disease severity with interleulkin-12 (IL-12) concentration in respiratory secretions. We evaluated the microbiologic, inflammatory, and pulmonary function indices of M. pneumoniae pneumonia in IL-12 (p35) knockout (KO) mice and wild-type (WT) mice to determine the role of IL-12 in M. pneumoniae respiratory disease. Eight-week-old wild-type BALB/c mice and 8-week-old IL-12 (p35) KO BALB/c mice were inoculated once intranasally with 107 CFU of M. pneumoniae. Mice were evaluated at days 2, 4, and 7 after inoculation. Outcome variables included quantitative bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) M. pneumoniae culture, lung histopathologic scores (HPS), BAL cytokine concentrations determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α], gamma Interferon [IFN-α], IL-1β, IL-2, DL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor) and plethysmography, before and after methaclioline, to assess airway obstruction (AO) and airway hyperreactivity (AHR). IL-12 (p35) KO mice infected with M. pneumoniae were found to have significantly lower BAL M. pneumoniae concentrations compared with M. pneumoniae-infected WT mice. Lung HPS and the parenchymal pneumonia subscores (neutrophilic alveolar infiltrate), as well as AO, were significantly lower in infected KO mice. No difference was found for AHR. Infected KO mice had significantly lower BAL concentrations of IFN-γ than WT mice; a trend toward lower BAL concentrations was observed for IL-10 (P = 0.065) and TNF-a (P = 0.078). No differences were found for IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, or IL-6. The lack of IL-12 in experimental M. pneumoniae pneumonia was associated with less severe pulmonary disease and more rapid microbiologic and histologic resolution.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)236-242
Number of pages7
JournalInfection and immunity
Volume75
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2007

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Parasitology
  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Respiratory tract infection with Mycoplasma pneumoniae in interleukin-12 knockout mice results in improved bacterial clearance and reduced pulmonary inflammation'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this