Effects of recombinant human gamma interferon on intracellular survival of Bordetella pertussis in human phagocytic cells |
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Authors: | Donato Torre Giulio Ferrario Giancarla Bonetta Lorenza Perversi Roberto Tambini Filippo Speranza |
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Affiliation: | Division of Infectious Diseases, Regional Hospital, Viale Borri 57, 21100 Varese, Italy;Institute of Infectious Diseases, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy |
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Abstract: | Abstract Several studies have demonstrated that Bordetella pertussis has the ability to enter and survive intracellularly within human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) and human monocytes/macrophages. The effects of human recombinant gamma interferon (IFN-γ) on the survival of B. pertussis in PMNL and human monocytes, and on the oxidative burst activity of PMNL and human monocytes in response to B. pertussis were assessed in this study. IFN-γ partially increased intracellular killing of phagocytosed B. pertussis in human monocytes, as determined by an orange acridine-crystal violet assay. In contrast, IFN-γ did not enhance intracellular killing of B. pertussis in PMNL. No significant increase of superoxide production was noted in human monocytes in response to B. pertussis when stimulated with various concentrations of IFN-γ. The partial increase of B. pertussis killing by IFN-γ within monocytes, together with poor production of superoxide may explain how B. pertussis can survive within human phagocytic cells, and thus cause a more prolonged course of the disease. |
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Keywords: | Gamma interferon Phagocytic cell Intracellular killing |
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