The Effect of the Scorbutic State on Tuberculin Hypersensitivity in the Guinea Pig

Abstract

Summary Lymphocytes were obtained from the peripheral blood of: a) unsensitized guinea pigs on a regular diet. b) guinea pigs sensitized with complete Freund's adjuvant while on a regular diet; these animals showed strongly positive tuberculin skin reactions. c) guinea pigs injected similarly with complete Freund's adjuvant while on a vitamin C-deficient diet; these animals showed marked depression of tuberculin skin reactivity compared with animals sensitized while on a regular diet. These lymphocytes were cultured separately in the presence of phytohemagglutinin, old tuberculin or without additive (controls). The lymphocytes of the scorbutic animals showed a mitotic response to PHA and OT which was at least as great as the response of the guinea pigs sensitized while on a normal diet. The mitotic response of cultured lymphocytes has been found to parallel the state of tuberculin skin reactivity in humans and guinea pigs and is thought to reflect an immune reaction in the cells. Cells from scorbutic guinea pigs with depressed tuberculin skin reactivity had formerly been shown to generally transfer tuberculin hypersensitivity to negative recipients.