Abstract
We have investigated the role of interferon-alpha/beta (IFN-alpha/beta) and IFN-dependent effector cells in causing enteropathy in mice. The IFN-inducer polyinosinic:polycytydylic acid (poly I:C) augmented the natural killer (NK) cell activation normally seen in neonatal (CBA x BALB/c)F1 mice with graft-versus-host reaction (GVHR) and exacerbated the systemic and intestinal consequences of GVHR. Poly I:C itself produced a similar pattern of intestinal pathology when administered to normal mice. The effects of poly I:C on NK cell activity and intestinal architecture in normal mice could be reproduced by a single injection of purified IFN-alpha/beta and the intestinal lesions caused by IFN-alpha/beta were prevented by in vivo depletion of NK cells with anti-asialo GM1. These results indicate that IFN-alpha/beta may play an important role in immunologically mediated enteropathies by virtue of its ability to activate NK cells.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 279-83 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Immunology |
Volume | 74 |
Issue number | 2 |
Publication status | Published - 1991 |
Keywords
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
- Graft vs Host Reaction
- Interferon Type I
- Intestinal Mucosa
- Intestines
- Jejunum
- Killer Cells, Natural
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Mice, Inbred CBA
- Poly I-C