Interleukin-1 contributes to an effective clearance of Mycobacterium kansasii from the respiratory tract

Mycobacterium kansasii is an emerging pathogen that is able to induce pulmonary disease resembling tuberculosis. To determine the role of interleukin (IL-)1 in lung infection caused by this atypical mycobacterium, IL-1 receptor type 1 knockout (IL-1R1 KO) and normal wild type mice were intranasally infected with M. kansasii. IL-1R1 KO mice demonstrated a reduced antibacterial response in the lungs and an increased dissemination to the liver, which was accompanied by an enhanced pulmonary inflammatory response. These data identify IL-1 as an important component of the innate immune response to lung infection by M. kansasii.