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Increase of tuberculous infection in the organs of B cell-deficient mice.
- Source :
- Clinical & Experimental Immunology; Nov1996, Vol. 106 Issue 2, p312-316, 5p
- Publication Year :
- 1996
-
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<superscript>-</superscript>) mice. Surprisingly, the organs of M. tuberculosis-infected Ig<superscript>-</superscript> 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<superscript>-</superscript> mice. The mechanisms by which B cells can influence primary tuberculous infection need further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- MYCOBACTERIUM tuberculosis
T cells
IMMUNOGLOBULINS
INFECTION
BCG vaccines
LYMPHOCYTES
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00099104
- Volume :
- 106
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Clinical & Experimental Immunology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 15892857
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2249.1996.d01-845.x