The full expression of the ity phenotype in ityr mice requires C3 activation by Salmonella lipopolysaccharide.

Our previous study has shown that the rapid and sufficient activation of complement by Salmonella lipopolysaccharide occurs in genetically resistant (Ityr) A/J mice. To assess whether the level of complement activation by a virulent strain of Salmonella typhimurium regulates the level of murine natural resistance, we compared levels of serum complement activation by S. typhimurium and kinetics of serum-opsonized S. typhimurium grown in macrophages using several strains of resistant (Ityr) and susceptible (Itys) mice. Itys macrophages killed intracellular S. typhimurium to the same extent as did Ityr macrophages when the pathogen was opsonized with Ityr serum. Opsonization of S. typhimurium with Itys serum reduced intracellular killing activity in Ityr macrophages to the same level as seen with Itys macrophages. Incubation of S. typhimurium with 25% Mg2+ EGTA (5 mm MgCl2-3 mm ethylene glycol-bis (beta-aminotheyl either)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid)-chelated Ityr serum resulted in higher levels of C3 deposition onto the surface of this bacteria, C3b generation and also C3 consumption, compared with that with Mg2+ EGTA-chelated Itys serum. Opsonization of S. typhimurium with A/J serum prior to infection increased early resistance in Itys mice. Infection with a virulent strain of S. typhimurium induced the expression of interleukin-10 (IL-10) mRNA at higher levels in C57BL/6 mice than in A/J mice. However, opsonization of S. typhimurium with A/J serum decreased bacterial growth in the spleen of C57BL/6 mice to the same level as observed for A/J mice in association with decreased expression levels of IL-10 mRNA. Moreover, administration of anti-C3 antibodies reduced the resistance of A/J mice in association with a decrease in serum levels of C3. These results indicate that the high level of complement activation via the alternative pathway in Ityr serum by a virulent strain of S. typhimurium reduces the virulence of this pathogen, which may contribute to the full expression of Ity phenotype in Ityr mice.