Protective role of IL-18 in host defenses against group B Streptococcus.
The aim of this study was to investigate the role of IL-18, a member of the IL-1 family, in group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection. Both in a neonatal and adult model of GBS infection, IL-18-deficient animals were significantly more susceptible to infection than WT animals. The lack of IL18 was associated with a marked reduction in IFN-γ-levels after bacterial stimulation but did not play a significant role in the recruitment of PMN to sites of GBS infection. Collectively, our data document a fundamental function of IL-18 signaling in boosting the host immune responses against GBS infection.
['Mancuso|G|G|', 'Midiri|A|A|', 'Beninati|C|C|', 'Zummo|S|S|', 'Biondo|C|C|']
IL-18 Group B Streptococcus Chemokines Cytokines Neutrophils