NK Cell-Derived IFN-γ Differentially Regulates Innate Resistance and Neutrophil Response in T Cell-Deficient Hosts Infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Abstract

Although it is known that IFN-γ-secreting T cells are critical for control of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, the contribution of IFN-γ produced by NK cells to host resistance to the pathogen is less well understood. By using T cell-deficient RAG−/− mice, we showed that M. tuberculosis stimulates NK cell-dependent IFN-γ production in naive splenic cultures and in lungs of infected animals. More importantly, common cytokine receptor γ-chain−/−RAG−/− animals deficient in NK cells, p40−/−RAG−/−, or anti-IFN-γ mAb-treated RAG−/− mice displayed significantly increased susceptibility to M. tuberculosis infection compared with untreated NK-sufficient RAG−/− controls. Studies comparing IL-12 p40- and p35-deficient RAG−/− mice indicated that IL-12 plays a more critical role in the induction of IFN-γ-mediated antimycobacterial effector functions than IL-23 or other p40-containing IL-12 family members. The increased susceptibility of IL-12-deficient or anti-IFN-γ mAb-treated RAG−/− mice was associated not only with elevated bacterial loads, but also with the development of granulocyte-enriched foci in lungs. This tissue response correlated with increased expression of the granulocyte chemotactic chemokines KC and MIP-2 in NK as well as other leukocyte populations. Interestingly, depletion of granulocytes further increased bacterial burdens and exacerbated pulmonary pathology in these animals, revealing a compensatory function for neutrophils in the absence of IFN-γ. The above observations indicate that NK cell-derived IFN-γ differentially regulates T-independent resistance and granulocyte function in M. tuberculosis infection and suggest that this response could serve as an important barrier in AIDS patients or other individuals with compromised CD4+ T cell function.