Abstract
Protection induced by vaccination depends on the capacity of the vaccine to elicit an appropriate immune response. In leishmaniasis, protection requires leishmanial-specific CD4+ T helper (TH) cells. Vaccination of BALB/c mice with leishmanial antigens and interleukin-12 (IL-12) promoted the development of leishmanial-specific CD4+ TH1 cells. These mice were resistant to subsequent infection with Leishmania major. Thus, IL-12 is an effective adjuvant for the initiation of protective cell-mediated immunity against leishmaniasis and may be an important component in other vaccines that need to induce cell-mediated immunity.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Adjuvants, Immunologic*
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Animals
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Antigens, Protozoan / immunology
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Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
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Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis
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Interleukin-12
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Interleukin-4 / biosynthesis
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Interleukins / immunology*
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Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
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Leishmania major / immunology*
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Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / immunology
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Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / prevention & control*
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Lymph Nodes / immunology
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred BALB C
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Mice, Inbred C3H
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Protozoan Vaccines / immunology*
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Spleen / immunology
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T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / immunology*
Substances
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Adjuvants, Immunologic
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Antigens, Protozoan
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Interleukins
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Protozoan Vaccines
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Interleukin-12
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Interleukin-4
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Interferon-gamma