1. Increase of tuberculous infection in the organs of B cell-deficient mice.
- Author
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Vordermeier, H. M., Venkataprasad, N., Harris, D. P., and Ivanyi, J.
- Subjects
MYCOBACTERIUM tuberculosis ,T cells ,IMMUNOGLOBULINS ,INFECTION ,BCG vaccines ,LYMPHOCYTES - Abstract
Protective immunity against infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis is imparted by T cells rather than antibodies, but B cells can play a role as antigen-presenting cells and in granuloma formation. We re-evaluated the role of B cells in the course of tuberculous infection in μ-chain knock-out (Ig
- ) mice. Surprisingly, the organs of M. tuberculosis-infected Ig- mice were found to have three- to eight-fold elevated counts of viable bacilli compared with normal littermates at 3-6 weeks post-infection. Splenic interferon-gamma responses to whole antigen were unimpaired, whilst proliferation to certain mycobacterial peptides was found to be diminished. However, bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination significantly reduced the infection in Ig- mice. The mechanisms by which B cells can influence primary tuberculous infection need further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 1996
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