Effect of IFN-γ inhalation on the cellular immunity of the lungs

AIM:To study the effect of IFN-γ inhalation on the anti-infection ability of the lungs in the immunocompromised host. METHODS:The immunological factors in the immunocompromised rats and the immunocompromised rats administrated IFN-γ via aerosol were investigated after 1, 3, 7 days when they were injected Candida albicans via tracheal. The Canidda albicans count of the left lung was also determined after 7 days when injecting pathogen. RESULTS:The Canidda albicans count of the left lung in IFN-γ group was significantly less than that of control group. The phagocyting and bactericidal percentages, Ia antigen expression percentages, the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in the culture supernatant of the AM, the activity of IFN-γ and TNF-α in BALF (except the TNF-α on 7 th day) in IFN-γ group were markedly higher than those in control group. The expression of IFN-γ and IL-1β pulmonary tissues in IFN-γ group was higher than that in control group. The expression of TNF-α in IFN-γ group was less than that in control group. The expression of IL-6 was no changes between two groups. The levels of IFN-γ, IL-1β and IL-6 in the blood (except IL-1β on 3 rd day), and the killing ability of the lymphocytes in blood had no difference between two groups. CONCLUSION:Administration of IFN-γ via aerosol obviously enhanced the anti-infection ability of the lungs in the immunocompromised host, but has no influence on the whole body cellular immunity.