Biomedical subjects

Guido Forni

Publications and source records attributed to Guido Forni.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2007

Adenovirus vaccination against neu oncogene exerts long-term protection from tumorigenesis in BALB/neuT transgenic mice.

The transforming rat HER2/neu oncogene (neu), when embedded in the genome of transgenic BALB/c (neuT) mice, provokes the development of an invasive carcinoma in each of their 10 mammary glands. We used the neuT mice model system to evaluate the immunization efficiency and the protective effect of intramuscular injection of adenovirus (Ad) and/or of DNA with electrostimulation (DNA+ES), both expressing the rat p185(neu) protein. A neu cDNA sequence, which exclusively contains codons preferred by highly expressed mammalian genes, was used in this study. This "optimized" cDNA displayed higher expression in cultured cells and greater cell-mediated response than the original gene when injected as DNA+ES. Ad expressing the optimized sequence (Ad5-neu.opt) induced a higher immune response, as measured by the frequency of IFN-gamma-secreting spleen cells and antibody titers. Different Ad/DNA combinations and immunization schedules confirmed the superiority of Ad5-neu.opt in inducing a strong Th1-skewed humoral and CD8(+) cell-mediated response. Two Ad5-neu.opt injections of 10(9) viral particles at week 10 and 12 were sufficient to induce the highest response, which persisted at detectable levels up to 33 weeks of age. Anti-Ad5 antibodies elicited by previous injections neutralized the effect of an additional Ad5-neu.opt immunization at week 19. A group, which received 3 injections of DNA+ES at week 23, 27 and 31, in addition to the 3 Ad injections at week 10, 12 and 19 showed an increased frequency of IFN-gamma(+), CD8(+) PBMC at week 25, which persisted at detectable levels till week 38. Ad5-neu.opt administration at 10 and 12 weeks of age had a significant impact on tumor progression. At 44 weeks, 40% of the mice were completely protected from tumors with a mean tumor of 3.8. In contrast, control mice developed 10 tumors and died by week 27. Vaccination blocked the tumor development at the atypical hyperplasia stage present at the time of treatment. Tumors developing at later times express reduced levels of rat p185(neu) protein.

Adenoviridae↗

PubMed2007

Gene-specific inhibition of breast carcinoma in BALB-neuT mice by active immunization with rat Neu or human ErbB receptors.

Employing the transgenic BALB-neuT mouse tumor model, we explored the in vivo biologic relevance of immunocompetent epitopes shared among the four ErbB receptors. The outcome of neu-mediated tumorigenesis was compared following vaccination with isogeneic normal rat ErbB2/Neu (LTR-Neu) or xenogeneic human ErbB receptors (LTR-EGFR, LTR-ErbB2, LTR-ErbB3 and LTR-ErbB4), each recombinantly expressed in an NIH3T3 murine cell background. Vaccination using rat LTR-Neu at the stage of atypical hyperplasia potently inhibited neu-mediated mammary tumorigenesis. Moreover, all human ErbB receptors specifically interfered with tumor development in BALB-neuT mice. Relative increase in tumor-free survival and reduction in tumor incidence corresponded to structural similarity shared with the etiologic neu oncogene, as rat orthologue LTR-Neu proved most effective followed by the human homologue LTR-ErbB2 and the other three human ErbB receptors. Vaccination resulted in high titer specific serum antibodies, whose tumor-inhibitory effect correlated with cross-reactivity to purified rat Neu extracellular domain in vitro. Furthermore, a T cell response specific for peptide epitopes of rat Neu was elicited in spleen cells of mice immunized with LTR-Neu and was remotely detectable for discrete peptides upon vaccination with LTR-ErbB2 and LTR-EGFR. The most pronounced tumor inhibition by LTR-Neu vaccination was associated with leukocyte infiltrate and tumor necrosis in vivo, while immune sera specifically induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis of BALB-neuT tumor cells in vitro. Our findings indicated that targeted inhibition of neu oncogene-mediated mammary carcinogenesis is conditional upon the immunization schedule and discrete immunogenic epitopes shared to a variable extent by different ErbB receptors.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Distinct and non-overlapping T cell receptor repertoires expanded by DNA vaccination in wild-type and HER-2 transgenic BALB/c mice.

Central tolerance to tumor-associated Ags is an immune-escape mechanism that significantly limits the TCR repertoires available for tumor eradication. The repertoires expanded in wild-type BALB/c and rat-HER-2/neu (rHER-2) transgenic BALB-neuT mice following DNA immunization against rHER-2 were compared by spectratyping the variable (V)beta and the joining (J)beta CDR 3. Following immunization, BALB/c mice raised a strong response. Every mouse used one or more CD8+ T cell rearrangements of the Vbeta9-Jbeta1.2 segments characterized by distinct length of the CDR3 and specific for 63-71 or 1206-1214 rHER-2 peptides. In addition, two CD4+ T cell rearrangements recurred in >50% of mice. Instead, BALB-neuT mice displayed a limited response to rHER-2. Their repertoire is smaller and uses different rearrangements confined to CD4+ T cells. Thus, central tolerance in BALB-neuT mice acts by silencing the BALB/c mice self-reactive repertoire and reducing the size of the CD8+ T cell component. CD8+ and CD4+ T cells from both wild-type and transgenic mice home to tumors. This definition of the T cell repertoires available is critical to the designing of immunological maneuvers able to elicit an effective immune reaction against HER-2-driven carcinogenesis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2006

A role for WASP Interacting Protein, WIP, in fibroblast adhesion, spreading and migration.

The WASP (Wiskott Aldrich Syndrome Protein) Interacting Protein, WIP, regulates actin polymerization and the formation of actin-rich structures such as filopodia and lamellipodia, each of which is involved in cellular adhesion, spreading and migration. To define the role for WIP in these activities, we analysed cell adhesion and spreading as well as the redistribution of polymerised actin and paxillin that occurred when fibroblasts were plated onto different substrata. We compared the effect of WIP overexpression (gain of function) with that of WIP deficiency (loss of function) on these parameters. WIP-overexpression delayed cellular adhesion and spreading, an effect that could be compensated for by exposure to Y-27632, a well characterized ROCK (Rho kinase) inhibitor. WIP overexpression augmented the phosphorylation of Erk and JNK induced by binding to fibronectin, suggesting that WIP participates in signal transduction pathways initiated by integrin engagement. Conversely, WIP deficiency accelerated fibroblast adhesion to plastic and led to the formation of enlarged focal adhesions. The influence of WIP on fibroblast migration was measured by scratch assay. WIP-overexpression reduced migration while WIP-deficiency increased it, suggesting that WIP acts as a negative regulator of fibroblast migration. Together, these findings suggest a novel role for WIP in fibroblast adhesion, spreading and migration.

Amides↗

PubMed2006

Activity of DNA vaccines encoding self or heterologous Her-2/neu in Her-2 or neu transgenic mice.

To assess the efficacy of self versus heterologous ErbB-2 vaccines, the reactivity to human and rat ErbB-2 (Her-2 and neu, respectively) DNA vaccines were tested in normal, Her-2 or neu transgenic mice. When immunized with either Her-2 or neu DNA, normal BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice produced cross-reactive T cells, but only antigen specific antibodies. In Her-2 Tg mice, weak to no anti-Her-2 response was induced by either self Her-2 or heterologous neu DNA, demonstrating profound tolerance to Her-2 and the inability to induce anti-Her-2 immunity with either vaccine. In NeuT mice, vaccination with self neu but not heterologous Her-2 DNA induced anti-neu antibodies and delayed spontaneous tumorigenesis. Both neu and Her-2 DNA induced anti-neu T cell response, but depletion of CD8 T cells did not change the delay in tumorigenesis. Therefore, in NeuT mice, both self and heterologous DNA activated anti-neu T cells, although T cell response did not reach sufficient level to suppress spontaneous tumorigenesis. Rather, induction of anti-neu antibodies by self neu DNA is associated with the delay in spontaneous tumor growth. Overall, NeuT mice were more responsive to DNA vaccination than Her-2 Tg mice and this may be associated with the continuous production of neu by the 10 mammary glands undergoing tumor progression.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

In vitro and in vivo magnetic resonance detection of tumor cells by targeting glutamine transporters with Gd-based probes.

The glutamine transporting system is up-regulated in tumor cells because cell proliferation requires the uptake of large quantities of glutamine. It has been found that the paramagnetic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reporter Gd-DOTAMA-C6-Gln, where the glutamine residue is covalently bound to the Gd chelate through a C6 spacer, accumulates in tumor cells both "in vitro" and "in vivo" experiments. The observation that the relaxivity of cellular pellets does not increase with the increase in the amounts of entrapped Gd chelate is taken as an indication that the internalization has occurred through receptor mediated endocytosis. The iv administration of Gd-DOTAMA-C6-Gln allowed the MRI visualization of tumor masses in A/J mice grafted with the murine neuroblastoma cell line Neuro-2a and in Her-2/neu transgenic mice developing multiple mammary carcinoma, respectively.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Immunosurveillance of Erbb2 carcinogenesis in transgenic mice is concealed by a dominant regulatory T-cell self-tolerance.

To assess the role of CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells in overcoming immunosurveillance of Erbb2 (HER-2/neu) mammary lesions, we studied the effects of their sustained removal in BALB/c female mice made transgenic for the rat Erbb2 (r-Erbb2) oncogene (BALB-neuT mice), which develop multiple mammary carcinomas. During the progression of these lesions, Treg cells expand in the spleen, tumor draining lymph nodes, and tumors. Repeated administration of anti-CD25 antibodies extends tumor-free survival, reduces carcinoma multiplicity, and leads to the manifestation of a natural antibody and CTL-mediated reactivity against r-Erbb2. Loss of Foxp3(+) Treg cells during anti-CD25 treatment remarkably caused the disappearance of Gr1(+) immature myeloid cells, suggesting a cross-talk between these two inhibitory immune cell types. Treg cell expansion associated with r-Erbb2 overexpression may be seen as a physiologic response to dampen the immune reaction elicited by local anomalous overexpression of a self-antigen.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Timely DNA vaccine combined with systemic IL-12 prevents parotid carcinomas before a dominant-negative p53 makes their growth independent of HER-2/neu expression.

Double transgenic mice overexpressing the transforming rat HER-2/neu oncogene and the mutated p53, with both dominant-negative and a gain-of-function properties, display early aggressive and metastasizing parotid tumors. Multiple acinar and ductal hyperplasia foci overexpressing the HER-2/neu gene product are evident at wk 5 and progress to poorly differentiated carcinoma by wk 7. Mice die before wk 18 with invasive carcinomas and multiple metastases that no longer express HER-2/neu. A combination of repeated electroporations of plasmids coding for the extracellular and transmembrane domains of the rat HER-2/neu receptor with systemic IL-12 administrations started when the parotids that present diffuse hyperplasia protected all female and 50% of the male mice until the close of the experiment at wk 40. This combined treatment began when multifocal in situ carcinomas that were already present cured 33% of the females and 25% of the males. The most prominent immunologic features associated with the antitumor protection were the production of high titers of anti-HER-2/neu Abs and the nonappearance of cell-mediated cytotoxic reactivity. In conclusion, anti-HER-2/neu vaccination combined with systemic IL-12 control parotid carcinomas as far as p53 mutation makes their growth independent of HER-2/neu expression.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed2006

A DNA vaccine targeting angiomotin inhibits angiogenesis and suppresses tumor growth.

Endogenous angiogenesis inhibitors have shown promise in preclinical trials, but clinical use has been hindered by low half-life in circulation and high production costs. Here, we describe a strategy that targets the angiostatin receptor angiomotin (Amot) by DNA vaccination. The vaccination procedure generated antibodies that detected Amot on the endothelial cell surface. Purified Ig bound to the endothelial cell membrane and inhibited endothelial cell migration. In vivo, DNA vaccination blocked angiogenesis in the matrigel plug assay and prevented growth of transplanted tumors for up to 150 days. We further demonstrate that a combination of DNA vaccines encoding Amot and the extracellular and transmembrane domains of the human EGF receptor 2 (Her-2)/neu oncogene inhibited breast cancer progression and impaired tumor vascularization in Her-2/neu transgenic mice. No toxicity or impairment of normal blood vessels could be detected. This work shows that DNA vaccination targeting Amot may be used to mimic the effect of angiostatin.

Angiomotins↗

PubMed2006

p130Cas as a new regulator of mammary epithelial cell proliferation, survival, and HER2-neu oncogene-dependent breast tumorigenesis.

To investigate the mechanisms through which p130Cas adaptor protein is linked to tumorigenesis, we generated mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV)-p130Cas mice overexpressing p130Cas in the mammary gland. MMTVp130Cas transgenic mice are characterized by extensive mammary epithelial hyperplasia during development and pregnancy and by delayed involution at the end of lactation. These phenotypes are associated with activation of Src kinase, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and Akt pathways, leading to an increased rate of proliferation and a decreased apoptosis. A double-transgenic line derived from crossing MMTV-p130Cas with MMTV-HER2-Neu mice expressing the activated form of the HER2-Neu oncogene develops multifocal mammary tumors with a significantly shorter latency than the HER2-Neu parental strain alone. Mammary epithelial cells isolated from tumors of double-transgenic mice display increased tyrosine phosphorylation, c-Src, and Akt activation compared with cells derived from HER2-Neu tumors. In addition, p130Cas down-regulation by RNA interference increases apoptosis in HER2-Neu-expressing cells, indicating that p130Cas regulates cell survival. Consistently with the double-transgenic mice model, p130Cas is overexpressed in a significant subset of human breast cancers and high levels of p130Cas in association with HER2 expression correlate with elevated proliferation. These findings provide evidences for a role of p130Cas as a positive regulator of both proliferation and survival in normal and transformed mammary epithelial cells. Its overexpression contributes to HER2-Neu-induced breast tumorigenesis, thus identifying this protein as a putative target for clinical therapy.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Vaccination for treatment and prevention of cancer in animal models.

Two approaches to immunological intervention in tumor-host interactions in mouse models are discussed in this review. The first is described with reference to experiments in which CD8(+) T lymphocytes are used to kill established transplantable tumors. Peptides and their optimal presentation by dendritic cells and intervention in immune regulatory mechanisms are the key issues for efficient induction of T-killer cell-mediated tumor eradication. The time frame of tumor therapy and the threat imposed by tumor growth in transplantable models and cancer patients require the induction of a robust T-cell reaction. Prevention of the progression of small preneoplastic lesions, on the other hand, requires the significant and prolonged immune protection sought in the second approach. This is based on antibody production and the coordinated activation of multiple low-avidity cell-mediated mechanisms elicited by DNA vaccination in genetically modified cancer-prone mice, transgenic for a mutant Her-2/neu growth factor receptor expressed at the plasma membrane surface of preneoplastic mammary gland epithelial cells. Vaccination with appropriate DNA formulations results in prolonged immune inhibition of the progression of preneoplastic mammary lesions but is ineffective against established tumors. The use of molecularly defined adjuvants and intervention in immune regulatory mechanisms are critical in both the elicitation of an effective T-cell mediated reaction required for tumor debulking in the first set of models and the induction by vaccination of a sustained immune memory able to prevent the expansion of preneoplastic lesions in genetically cancer-prone mice.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Vaccines for tumour prevention.

Despite tremendous progress in basic and epidemiological research, effective prevention of most types of cancer is still lacking. Vaccine use in cancer therapy remains a promising but difficult prospect. However, new mouse models that recapitulate significant features of human cancer progression show that vaccines can keep precancerous lesions under control and might eventually be the spearhead of effective and reliable ways to prevent cancer.

Cancer Vaccines↗

PubMed2005

An integrated approach of immunogenomics and bioinformatics to identify new Tumor Associated Antigens (TAA) for mammary cancer immunological prevention.

BACKGROUND: Neoplastic transformation is a multistep process in which distinct gene products of specific cell regulatory pathways are involved at each stage. Identification of overexpressed genes provides an unprecedented opportunity to address the immune system against antigens typical of defined stages of neoplastic transformation. HER-2/neu/ERBB2 (Her2) oncogene is a prototype of deregulated oncogenic protein kinase membrane receptors. Mice transgenic for rat Her2 (BALB-neuT mice) were studied to evaluate the stage in which vaccines can prevent the onset of Her2 driven mammary carcinomas. As Her2 is not overexpressed in all mammary carcinomas, definition of an additional set of tumor associated antigens (TAAs) expressed at defined stages by most breast carcinomas would allow a broader coverage of vaccination. To address this question, a meta-analysis was performed on two transcription profile studies to identify a set of new TAA targets to be used instead of or in conjunction with Her2. RESULTS: The five TAAs identified (Tes, Rcn2, Rnf4, Cradd, Galnt3) are those whose expression is linearly related to the tumor mass increase in BALB-neuT mammary glands. Moreover, they have a low expression in normal tissues and are generally expressed in human breast tumors, though at a lower level than Her2. CONCLUSION: Although the number of putative TAAs identified is limited, this pilot study suggests that meta-analysis of expression profiles produces results that could assist in the designing of pre-clinical immunopreventive vaccines.

Allergy and Immunology↗

PubMed2005

A single vaccination with polyomavirus VP1/VP2Her2 virus-like particles prevents outgrowth of HER-2/neu-expressing tumors.

Murine polyomavirus (MPyV) VP1 virus-like particles (VLPs), containing a fusion protein between MPyV VP2 and the extracellular and transmembrane domain of HER-2/neu (Her2), Her2(1-683)PyVLPs, were tested for their ability to vaccinate against Her2-expressing tumors in two different in vivo models. Protection was assessed both against a lethal challenge with a BALB/c mammary carcinoma transfected with human Her2 (D2F2/E2) and against the outgrowth of autochthonous mammary carcinomas in BALB-neuT mice, transgenic for the activated rat Her2 oncogene. A single injection of Her2(1-683)PyVLPs before tumor inoculation induced a complete rejection of D2F2/E2 tumor cells in BALB/c mice. Similarly, a single injection of Her2(1-683)PyVLPs at 6 weeks of age protected BALB-neuT mice with atypical hyperplasia from a later outgrowth of mammary carcinomas, whereas all controls developed palpable tumors in all mammary glands. VLPs containing only VP1 and VP2 did not induce protection. The protection elicited by Her2(1-683)PyVLPs vaccination was most likely due to a cellular immune response because a Her2-specific response was shown in an ELISPOT assay, whereas antibodies against Her2 were not detected in any of the two models. The results show the feasibility of using MPyV-VLPs carrying Her2 fusion proteins as safe and efficient vaccines against Her2-expressing tumors.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

The adjuvant activity of BAT antibody enables DNA vaccination to inhibit the progression of established autochthonous Her-2/neu carcinomas in BALB/c mice.

Over the course of 33 weeks from birth, the mammary glands of virgin female BALB/c mice transgenic for the transforming rat Her-2/neu oncogene progress from atypical hyperplasia to invasive carcinoma. By week 12, all their mammary glands display many foci of in situ carcinoma. DNA vaccination at weeks 12 and 14 through in vivo electroporation of a plasmid encoding for the extracellular and transmembrane domain of the protein product of rat Her-2/neu oncogene kept 33% of mice tumor-free until week 35, when the experiment ended. To improve its efficacy the vaccine was combined with a T cell stimulatory monoclonal antibody (BAT). When each plasmid electroporation was followed by intravenous administration of 10 microg of BAT monoclonal antibody at weeks 13 and 15, 55% of mice remained tumor free (p < 0.0001) and stronger T cell and antibody-mediated immune responses were elicited. These data suggest that costimulation by BAT monoclonal antibody enables DNA vaccination to establish an effective protection against incipient carcinomas.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed2005

Early role of CD4+ Th1 cells and antibodies in HER-2 adenovirus vaccine protection against autochthonous mammary carcinomas.

HER-2 is an oncogenic tumor-associated Ag that is overexpressed in several human tumors including breast and ovarian cancer. The efficacy and mechanism of a HER-2-expressing recombinant adenoviral vaccine to protect against tumorigenesis was examined using HER-2 transgenic (BALB-neuT) mice, which develop spontaneous breast tumors in all 10 mammary glands, and also using a transplantable mouse tumor model. Vaccination beginning at 6-8 wk of age (through 19 wk of age) prevented development of spontaneous mammary tumors even after 50 wk, whereas the animals in the control groups had tumors in all mammary glands by 25 wk. Such long-term protection after the last boost has not been achieved previously in this transgenic mouse in which the oncogene is continuously spawning tumorigenesis. Using beta(2)-microglobulin-knockout, IFN-gamma-knockout, and B cell-deficient mice, CD4(+) and CD8(+) cell depletion, and Ab transfer studies, we show that induction of anti-HER-2/neu Abs are both necessary and sufficient for protection, and the IgG2a isotype is most effective. In contrast, CD8(+) T cells are not necessary at all, and CD4(+) T cells are necessary for only 36-48 h after immunization to provide help for B cells but not as effector cells. Equal protection in immunized mice deficient in FcgammaRI/III excluded an FcR-mediated mechanism. Anti-HER-2 serum not only inhibited growth of mammary tumor cell lines expressing HER-2 in vitro but also protected mice from tumors in vivo, suggesting a direct action of Ab on the tumor cells. Such a vaccine may provide Ab-mediated protection against HER-2-expressing breast cancers in humans.

Adenoviridae↗

PubMed2005

Cure of mammary carcinomas in Her-2 transgenic mice through sequential stimulation of innate (neoadjuvant interleukin-12) and adaptive (DNA vaccine electroporation) immunity.

PURPOSE: Whereas neoadjuvant therapy is emerging as a treatment option in early primary breast cancer, no data are available on the use of antiangiogenic and immunomodulatory agents in a neoadjuvant setting. In a model of Her-2 spontaneous mammary cancer, we investigated the efficacy of neoadjuvant interleukin 12 (IL-12) followed by "immune-surgery" of the residual tumor. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Female BALB/c mice transgenic for the rat Her-2 oncogene inexorably develop invasive carcinomas in all their mammary glands by the 23rd week of age. Mice with multifocal in situ carcinomas received four weekly i.p. injections of 100 ng IL-12 followed by a 3-week rest. This course was given four times. A few mice additionally received DNA plasmids encoding portions of the Her-2 receptor electroporated through transcutaneous electric pulses. RESULTS: The protection elicited by IL-12 in combination with two DNA vaccine electroporations kept 63% of mice tumor-free. Complete protection of all 1-year-old mice was achieved when IL-12-treated mice received four vaccine electroporations. Pathologic findings, in vitro tests, and the results from immunization of both IFN-gamma and immunoglobulin gene knockout transgenic mice and of adoptive transfer experiments all show that IL-12 augments the B- and T-cell response elicited by vaccination and slightly decreases the number of regulatory T cells. In addition, IL-12 strongly inhibits tumor angiogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: In Her-2 transgenic mice, IL-12 impairs tumor progression and triggers innate immunity so markedly that DNA vaccination becomes effective at late points in time when it is ineffective on its own.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Immune prevention of mammary carcinogenesis in HER-2/neu transgenic mice: a microarray scenario.

Neoplastic transformation is a multistep process in which gene products of specific regulatory pathways are involved at each stage. Identification of these overexpressed or mutated gene products provides an unprecedented opportunity to address the immune system against defined antigens and eliminate transformed cells. Mice transgenic for these oncogenes (e.g. HER-2/neu, a prototype of deregulated oncogenic protein kinase membrane receptors) are ideal experimental models for assessing the potential of active immunization. The demonstration that vaccines can cure HER-2/neu transplantable tumors, prevent their onset and delay the progression of preneoplastic lesions in mice at risk suggests that efficient immunological inhibition of HER-2/neu carcinogenesis can be achieved by specific vaccination. To further explore this issue, halting of tumor progression in the mammary glands of BALB-neuT mice with two immunization protocols in two laboratories has been studied independently by DNA microarray analysis. Combination of the two sets of results revealed a clear correlation between them when the tumor mass was titrated by transcription profiling. It was also clear that both protocols induced a strong, polyclonal antibody response and halted tumor growth at a condition very similar to that at which the vaccination began. Differences in the expression profiles were mainly related to the expression levels of a few chemokines and T-cell-specific genes that may be in some way correlated with the efficacy of the vaccination. Last, combination of the expression data with the protection results indicated that chronic vaccination is needed to maintain an active IFN-gamma-mediated response in the mammary gland.

Animals↗