Outcome of Staphylococcus aureus-triggered sepsis and arthritis in IL-4-deficient mice depends on the genetic background of the host

Eur J Immunol. 1999 Aug;29(8):2400-5. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1521-4141(199908)29:08<2400::AID-IMMU2400>3.0.CO;2-E.

Abstract

Disruption of the IL-4 gene in two inbred mouse strains revealed a dual role of IL-4 in Staphylococcus aureus sepsis and arthritis depending on the host's genetic background. IL-4 was protective in 129SV mice, since 5 days after S. aureus inoculation IL-4(-/-) mice displayed 70% mortality as compared to survival of all 129SV wild-type counterparts. On the other hand, IL-4 was detrimental in C57BL/6 mice, since survival of IL-4(-/-) C57BL/6 mice was increased, as compared to wild-type controls, due to decreased staphylococcal growth. Altogether, our results show the dual role of IL-4 in S. aureus sepsis and arthritis, depending on the genetic background of the host.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • Arthritis, Infectious / etiology*
  • Arthritis, Infectious / genetics
  • Arthritis, Infectious / immunology
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
  • Female
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-4 / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-4 / deficiency*
  • Interleukin-4 / genetics
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Inbred Strains
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Sepsis / etiology*
  • Sepsis / genetics
  • Sepsis / immunology
  • Species Specificity
  • Staphylococcal Infections / etiology*
  • Staphylococcal Infections / genetics
  • Staphylococcal Infections / immunology
  • Staphylococcus aureus / pathogenicity
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / biosynthesis

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Interleukin-4
  • Interferon-gamma