Mast cells inhibit intramacrophage Francisella tularensis replication via contact and secreted products including IL-4.

ABSTRACT: Francisella tularensis is an intracellular, Gram-negative bacterium that is the causative agent of pulmonary tularemia. The pathogenesis and mechanisms related to innate resistance against F. tularensis are not completely understood. Mast cells are strategically positioned within mucosal tissues, the major interface with the external environment, to initiate innate responses at the site of infection. Mast cell numbers in the cervical lymph nodes and the lungs progressively increased as early as 48 h after intranasal F. tularensis live vaccine strain (LVS) challenge. We established a primary bone marrow-derived mast cell-macrophage coculture system and found that mast cells significantly inhibit F. tularensis LVS uptake and growth within macrophages. Importantly, mice deficient in either ma

SUBMITTER: Ketavarapu JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2453703 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature