Modulation of Klebsiella pneumoniae infection of mice by interferon-γ

• Published in: Clinical and experimental immunology Vol. 72; no. 3; pp. 406 - 409
• Main Authors: HERSHMAN, M. J, POLK, H. C. JR, PIETSCH, J. D, KUFTINEC, D, SONNENFELD, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Blackwell 01.06.1988
• Subjects: Analysis of the immune response. Humoral and cellular immunity; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Drug Administration Schedule; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Immunobiology; Interferon-gamma - administration & dosage; Interferon-gamma - therapeutic use; Klebsiella Infections - mortality; Klebsiella Infections - prevention & control; Klebsiella Infections - therapy; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred CBA; Miscellaneous; Regulatory factors and their cellular receptors; Space life sciences; Wound Infection - therapy; Bacteria; Interferon; Klebsielleae; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Enterobacteriaceae
• ISSN: 0009-9104; 1365-2249

The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) as prophylaxis and therapy in a wound infection model with a 'surgical' pathogen. The bacterial challenge consisted of intramuscular injections of Klebsiella pneumoniae (10(3) organisms in 0.1 ml). Groups of 12 CBA/J mice had either IFN-gamma or RPMI-1640 medium (controls) injected subcutaneously. Mice pretreated with IFN-gamma in a dose of 7,500 or 750 units per day, followed by infection and 2 days additional IFN-gamma treatment, survived significantly longer than controls or mice treated with 150 units of IFN-gamma per day. Significantly greater survival than controls was seen with only 5 or 3 days pretreatment with IFN-gamma but not with 1 day pretreatment. Administration of IFN-gamma to the opposite hind leg from the one receiving bacterial challenge was as effective as same leg treatment. When IFN-gamma therapy was commenced 1 h after bacterial challenge and continued for 7 days, 13 of 60 mice survived, which was significantly greater than four of 60 surviving controls. These effects may be secondary to IFN-gamma's immunoregulatory effects rather than by involving any antiviral properties.