Transgenic mice and the study of cytokine function in infection

Most information about the involvement of the different cytokines in immunity to infection has been obtained by the administration to infected animals of recombinant molecules or of antibodies against them. Now another approach to the study of cytokine function, in vivo, is available in the form of transgenic mice that express a transgene encoding a particular cytokine, and of 'knockout' animals, in which a cytokine gene, or a gene for its receptor (which usually comes to the same thing), have been rendered inactive by targeted disruption. While a few of these lines of mice have been analysed for their response to infection by protozoan parasites or worms, more have been tested for their ability to withstand intracellular infections by bacteria or viruses. In this review, Janice Taverne outlines those described to date in which the immune (or immunopathological mechanisms concerned may be relevant to parasitic diseases.