Interferons Increase Lethality in Mice with Inhalational Anthrax
Author Information
Author(s): Jeffrey A. Gold, Yoshihiko Hoshino, Marcus B. Jones, Satomi Hoshino, Anna Nolan, Michael D. Weiden
Primary Institution: Oregon Health and Sciences University, New York University School of Medicine, J. Craig Venter Institute
Hypothesis
Can exogenous interferons protect mice during infection with Bacillus anthracis?
Conclusion
Exogenous interferons increase inflammation and mortality in mice infected with Bacillus anthracis.
Supporting Evidence
- Mice treated with exogenous IFN-γ showed 100% mortality at 3 days post-infection.
- Endogenous IFNs are essential for controlling Bacillus anthracis germination and lethality.
- Exogenous IFNs increased local inflammatory responses and extrapulmonary dissemination of the bacteria.
Takeaway
Giving certain proteins called interferons to mice with anthrax made them sicker and more likely to die, even though these proteins usually help fight infections.
Methodology
Mice were infected with Bacillus anthracis spores and treated with exogenous interferons to assess their effects on mortality and immune response.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the use of a specific mouse model that may not generalize to other strains.
Limitations
The study used a non-virulent strain of Bacillus anthracis and specific mouse strains, which may not represent all responses.
Participant Demographics
Female C57BL/6 mice and age-matched STAT1−/− mice.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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