Neutrophil-Mediated Mycobacteriocidal Immunity in the Lung duringMycobacterium bovisBCG Infection in C57BL/6 Mice

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Abstract
Although neutrophils have been identified as sources of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, little is known about their immunologic function during mycobacterial infection in the lungs. In this study, we examined the growth ofMycobacterium bovisBCG in the lungs under experimental conditions that altered neutrophil recruitment to the lungs. Depletion and recruitment of neutrophils was associated with respective increases and decreases inM. bovisBCG growth. Thus, neutrophils may enhance mycobacteriocidal immunity in the lungs.