Lymphotoxin-α Plays Only a Minor Role in Host Resistance to Respiratory Infection with Virulent Type A Francisella tularensis in Mice

This study examined the role of lymphotoxin (LT)-α in host defense against airborne infection with Francisella tularensis, a gram-negative facultative intracellular bacterium and the causative agent of tularemia. Following a low-dose aerosol infection with the highly virulent type A strain of F. tul...

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Main Authors: Deng Zhang, Rhonda KuoLee, Greg Harris, Qinxian Zhang, J. Wayne Conlan, Wangxue Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2008-01-01
Series:Mediators of Inflammation
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2008/239740
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author Deng Zhang
Rhonda KuoLee
Greg Harris
Qinxian Zhang
J. Wayne Conlan
Wangxue Chen
author_facet Deng Zhang
Rhonda KuoLee
Greg Harris
Qinxian Zhang
J. Wayne Conlan
Wangxue Chen
author_sort Deng Zhang
collection DOAJ
description This study examined the role of lymphotoxin (LT)-α in host defense against airborne infection with Francisella tularensis, a gram-negative facultative intracellular bacterium and the causative agent of tularemia. Following a low-dose aerosol infection with the highly virulent type A strain of F. tularensis, mice deficient in LT α (LTα−/−) consistently harbored approximately 10-fold fewer bacteria in their spleens at day 2 and 10-fold more bacteria in their lungs at day 4 than LTα+/+ mice. However, the mortality and median time to death were indistinguishable between the two mouse strains. In addition, the inflammatory responses to the infection, as reflected by the cytokine levels and leukocyte influx in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and histopathological analysis, were generally similar between LTα−/− and LTα+/+ mice. These data suggest that although LTα does not contribute significantly to the resistance and host responses of mice to airborne type A F. tularensis infection, it does play a subtle role in the multiplication/dissemination of F. tularensis.
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series Mediators of Inflammation
spelling doaj-art-3b4677b18206434ea995ff59bdfd6e5a2025-08-20T02:08:02ZengWileyMediators of Inflammation0962-93511466-18612008-01-01200810.1155/2008/239740239740Lymphotoxin-α Plays Only a Minor Role in Host Resistance to Respiratory Infection with Virulent Type A Francisella tularensis in MiceDeng Zhang0Rhonda KuoLee1Greg Harris2Qinxian Zhang3J. Wayne Conlan4Wangxue Chen5National Research Council Canada, Institute for Biological Sciences, 100 Sussex Drive, Room 3100, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0R6, CanadaNational Research Council Canada, Institute for Biological Sciences, 100 Sussex Drive, Room 3100, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0R6, CanadaNational Research Council Canada, Institute for Biological Sciences, 100 Sussex Drive, Room 3100, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0R6, CanadaBasic Medical College of Zhengzhou University, 100 Science Road, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, ChinaNational Research Council Canada, Institute for Biological Sciences, 100 Sussex Drive, Room 3100, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0R6, CanadaNational Research Council Canada, Institute for Biological Sciences, 100 Sussex Drive, Room 3100, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0R6, CanadaThis study examined the role of lymphotoxin (LT)-α in host defense against airborne infection with Francisella tularensis, a gram-negative facultative intracellular bacterium and the causative agent of tularemia. Following a low-dose aerosol infection with the highly virulent type A strain of F. tularensis, mice deficient in LT α (LTα−/−) consistently harbored approximately 10-fold fewer bacteria in their spleens at day 2 and 10-fold more bacteria in their lungs at day 4 than LTα+/+ mice. However, the mortality and median time to death were indistinguishable between the two mouse strains. In addition, the inflammatory responses to the infection, as reflected by the cytokine levels and leukocyte influx in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and histopathological analysis, were generally similar between LTα−/− and LTα+/+ mice. These data suggest that although LTα does not contribute significantly to the resistance and host responses of mice to airborne type A F. tularensis infection, it does play a subtle role in the multiplication/dissemination of F. tularensis.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2008/239740
spellingShingle Deng Zhang
Rhonda KuoLee
Greg Harris
Qinxian Zhang
J. Wayne Conlan
Wangxue Chen
Lymphotoxin-α Plays Only a Minor Role in Host Resistance to Respiratory Infection with Virulent Type A Francisella tularensis in Mice
Mediators of Inflammation
title Lymphotoxin-α Plays Only a Minor Role in Host Resistance to Respiratory Infection with Virulent Type A Francisella tularensis in Mice
title_full Lymphotoxin-α Plays Only a Minor Role in Host Resistance to Respiratory Infection with Virulent Type A Francisella tularensis in Mice
title_fullStr Lymphotoxin-α Plays Only a Minor Role in Host Resistance to Respiratory Infection with Virulent Type A Francisella tularensis in Mice
title_full_unstemmed Lymphotoxin-α Plays Only a Minor Role in Host Resistance to Respiratory Infection with Virulent Type A Francisella tularensis in Mice
title_short Lymphotoxin-α Plays Only a Minor Role in Host Resistance to Respiratory Infection with Virulent Type A Francisella tularensis in Mice
title_sort lymphotoxin α plays only a minor role in host resistance to respiratory infection with virulent type a francisella tularensis in mice
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2008/239740
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