IL-12 protects mice against pulmonary and disseminated infection caused by Cryptococcus neoformans

We examined the role of IL-12 in host resistance to Cryptococcus neoformans using a murine model of pulmonary and disseminated infection. In this model, mice were infected intratracheally with viable yeast cells. Mice untreated with IL-12 allowed an uncontrolled multiplication of yeast cells in the lung with infiltrations of few inflammatory cells, and a cryptococcal dissemination to the brain and meningitis by 3 weeks, resulting in death of all animals within 4-6 weeks. IL-12, when administered from the day of tracheal infection for 7 days, induced a marked infiltration of inflammatory cells, consisting mostly of mononuclear cells, and significantly reduced the number of viable yeast cells in the lung. The treatment suppressed brain dissemination, as shown by a marked reduction of yeast cells in the brain and prevention of meningitis. These effects resulted in a significant increase in the survival rate of infected mice. In contrast, late administration of IL-12 commencing on day 7 after instillation of yeast cells failed to protect the mice against infection with C. neoformans. In further experiments, early administration of IL-12 markedly induced interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) mRNA in the lungs of infected mice, while no IFN-γ mRNA was detected without this treatment. Our results indicate that IL-12 is effective when administered in the early period of pulmonary cryptococcal infection.