Immunological effects of recombinant interferon gamma in vivo in normal mice: failure to induce autoantibodies
Related Experiment Videos
J L Davignon1, P L Cohen, R A Eisenberg
1Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599-7280.
We have investigated the effects on the immune system, and especially on the induction of autoimmunity, of treatment of mice with recombinant IFN-gamma in vivo by several protocols. Neither antichromatin nor Coombs autoantibody was observed. The spleens of the treated animals enlarged two fold, despite a dramatic decrease in numbers of Thy-1+ spleen cells and a smaller decrease in surface Ig+ spleen cells. This was correlated with a markedly diminished Con A response and moderately reduced LPS response. On the other hand, the numbers of IgG secreting cells were augmented in the spleens of treated mice. In addition, IFN-gamma-injected mice lost weight and became anemic. This study shows that, although IFN-gamma-injected in vivo leads to severe changes in the murine immune system, it is not responsible by itself for the induction of autoimmunity.
We have investigated the effects on the immune system, and especially on the induction of autoimmunity, of treatment of mice with recombinant IFN-gamma in vivo by several protocols. Neither antichromatin nor Coombs autoantibody was observed. The spleens of the treated animals enlarged two fold, despite a dramatic decrease in numbers of Thy-1+ spleen cells and a smaller decrease in surface Ig+ spleen cells. This was correlated with a markedly diminished Con A response and moderately reduced LPS response. On the other hand, the numbers of IgG secreting cells were augmented in the spleens of treated mice. In addition, IFN-gamma-injected mice lost weight and became anemic. This study shows that, although IFN-gamma-injected in vivo leads to severe changes in the murine immune system, it is not responsible by itself for the induction of autoimmunity.