Hematopoietic remodeling in interferon-gamma-deficient mice infected with mycobacteria

Control of intracellular bacterial infections requires interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) both for establishing a Th1 T-cell response and for activating macrophages to kill the bacteria. Exposure of mice deficient in IFN-gamma to mycobacterial infection produces an immune response characterized by a Th2 T-cell phenotype, florid bacterial growth, and death. We report here that IFN-gamma-deficient mice infected with mycobacteria also undergo a dramatic remodeling of the hematopoietic system. Myeloid cell proliferation proceeds unchecked throughout the course of mycobacterial infection, resulting in a transition to extramedullary hematopoiesis. The splenic architecture of infected IFN-gamma-deficient mice is completely effaced by expansion of macrophages, granulocytes, and extramedullary hematopoietic tissue. These features coincide with splenomegaly, an increase in splenic myeloid colony-forming activity, and marked granulocytosis in the peripheral blood. Systemic levels of cytokines are elevated, particularly interleukin-6 (IL-6) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). These results suggest that in addition to its central role in cellular immunity, IFN-gamma may be a key cytokine in coordinate regulation of immune effector cells and myelopoiesis. This model should be valuable for deciphering the cross-talk between the immune response and hematopoiesis during bacterial infection and for improving our understanding of the mechanisms that control chronic infections.