Leukocyte-mediated lysis of infected hepatocytes during listeriosis occurs in mice depleted of NK cells or CD4+ CD8+ Thy1.2+ T cells.

An important early component of defense against listeriosis in mice is the lysis of infected hepatocytes by leukocytes that accumulate at foci of infection in the liver. This serves to release Listeria monocytogenes from permissive parenchymal cells for ingestion and inactivation by phagocytic cells. It is shown here that lysis of infected hepatocytes is as extensive in mice depleted of T cells or NK cells as it is in control mice. This supports the original interpretation that hepatocyte lysis is mediated mainly by neutrophils.