Murine IL-12 is involved in Calmette-Guérin bacillus-induced sensitization and is by itself sufficient to sensitize mice to the lethal effects of human TNF1
Cauwels, A.; Fiers, W.; Brouckaert, P.
Journal of Immunology 156(12): 4686-4690
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-1767 PMID: 8648113 Document Number: 466630
Human TNF, a specific agonist of murine (m)TNF-R55, is fairly harmless in healthy mice, but readily induces lethality in animals sensitized by a malignant tumor or a bacterial infection. We here report that IL-12 is both a necessary and sufficient mediator in Calmette-Guerin bacillus-induced sensitization to the lethal effects of hTNF. Evidence for this involvement is provided by the protection observed after anti-mIL-12 Ab treatment and by the fact that Calmette-Guerin bacillus-induced sensitization can be mimicked by repetitive mIL-12 administration. IL-12 exerts this effect by inducing IFN-gamma in NK cells. Tumor-induced sensitization, however, does not seem to involve mIL-12.