Gamma interferon-independent effects of interleukin-12 on immunity to Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium

Abstract

Interleukin-12 (IL-12) and IL-18 are both central to the induction of gamma interferon (IFN-γ), and various roles for IL-12 and IL-18 in control of intracellular microbial infections have been demonstrated. We used IL-12p40 -/- and IL-18-/- mice to further investigate the role of IL-12 and IL-18 in control of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. While C57BL/6 and IL-18-/- mice were able to resolve attenuated S. enterica serovar Typhimurium infections, the IL-12p40-/- mice succumbed to a high bacterial burden after 60 days. Using ovalbumin (OVA)-specific T-cell receptor transgenic T cells (OT-II cells), we demonstrated that following oral infection with recombinant S. enterica serovar Typ..