Evolution of the Primary Immune Response to Histoplasma capsulatum in Murine Lung

Histoplasma capsulatum induces a cell-mediated immune response in the lungs and lymphoid organs of mammals. In this study, we analyzed the progression of the cytokine and inflammatory reactions in the lungs of mice infected intranasally with H. capsulatum. We measured cytokine mRNA levels and determined the inflammatory cell populations during the active phase of infection (<3 weeks). Transcription of genes encoding interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4, and IL-12 and gamma interferon (IFN-γ) was detectable as early as day 3 of infection, whereas a signal for IL-10 was never observed. Competitive PCR analysis demonstrated that enhanced expression of IL-12 mRNA was observed by day 3 and that expression of mRNA for IL-2 and IFN-γ progressively increased from day 5 to day 10. All levels declined by day 14. Analysis of the inflammatory response revealed an initial elevation in myeloid cells (Mac-1(+)) and natural killer (NK) cells followed by a rise in T cells, predominantly CD4(+) cells. Since IFN-γ is a key factor in host defense, we performed cytoplasmic staining to determine the cell populations that produced this cytokine. The hierarchy of synthesis was CD4(+) > CD8(+) > NK cells. Thus, H. capsulatum provokes an orderly modulation of the inflammatory and cytokine responses in murine lungs.