Acute Starvation Protects Mice Against Listeria monocytogenes

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Abstract
The effect of starvation on the course of L. monocytogenes infections in mice was investigated. Mice starved for 24, 48 or 72 h and then inoculated with a LD of L. monocytogenes showed significantly less mortality than mice not starved (i.e., fed mice). The protective effect of 48 or 72 h of starvation began immediately after the starvation period and persisted for at least 48 h. Starved, infected mice had significantly fewer L. monocytogenes cells in their spleens 2, 3 and 4 days after infection than did fed mice. Neither changes in T [thymus-derived] lymphocyte function nor serum factors appeared responsible for the protective effect. Delayed hypersensitivity responses to L. monocytogenes antigen were smaller in starved mice than in fed mice. Adoptive transfer of spleen cells from non-immune starved mice did not protect against L. monocytogenes. The serum of starved mice apparently did not inhibit multiplication of L. monocytogenes in vitro nor could it transfer protection against L. monocytogenes to normal mice. Peritoneal macrophages from starved mice inhibited DNA synthesis of P815 [mastocytoma] tumor cells compared with macrophages from control mice. Resistance of starved mice to L. monocytogenes is most likely due to non-specific factors, 1 of which may be activation of macrophages.