American Society for Microbiology, Infection and Immunity, 4(82), p. 1692-1697, 2014
DOI: 10.1128/iai.01508-13
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ABSTRACT Gamma interferon (IFN-γ) is an important driver of intestinal inflammation during colitis caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. Here we used the mouse colitis model to investigate the cellular sources of IFN-γ in the cecal mucosa during the acute phase of an S . Typhimurium infection. While IFN-γ staining was detected in T cells, NK cells, and inflammatory monocytes at 2 days after infection, the majority of IFN-γ-positive cells in the cecal mucosa were neutrophils. Furthermore, neutrophil depletion blunted mucosal Ifng expression and reduced the severity of intestinal lesions during S . Typhimurium infection. We conclude that neutrophils are a prominent cellular source of IFN-γ during the innate phase of S . Typhimurium-induced colitis.