Pulmonary Granuloma Formation Research Articles

Specificity of a BCG-induced pulmonary granulomatous response in rabbits.

The specificity of Bacillus Calmette Guérin (BCG)-induced accelerated pulmonary granuloma formation has been evaluated in rabbits by cross sensitization-challenge experiments by using another granulomagenic organism, Corynebacterium granulosum. BCG-sensitized rabbits responded to challenge with homologous but not heterologous antigen, indicating that BCG-induced accelerated granuloma formation displays specificity characteristic of immunological reactions. These differences were also observed in local pulmonary delayed hypersensitivity, as determined by the migration inhibition test. The relationship between local pulmonary delayed hypersensitivity and the accelerated granulomatous response is discussed.

Effect of Antimacrophage Serum on Dermal Tuberculin Sensitivity and Allergic Pulmonary Granuloma Formation in Rabbits

Anti-rabbit alveolar macrophage goat serum (AMS), adsorbed of hemolysins and hemagglutinins, exhibited complement-dependent cytotoxicity for the following rabbit target cells: alveolar macrophages, thymocytes, and kidney (RK-13) cells. The intravenous injection of AMS, sufficient to reduce markedly the dermal tuberculin reaction in BCG-sensitized rabbits, did not suppress the development of BCG-induced chronic and accelerated pulmonary granulomas. These observations are discussed in relation to delayed sensitivity, allergic granuloma formation, and cell-associated immunity.