Role Of Mycobacteria Research Articles

Induction and properties of DNP-specific T cells in mice sensitized to DNP-coupled mycobacterium.

Splenic T lymphocytes from mice sensitized to 100 microgram of DNP-coupled mycobacterium (DNP-Tbc) showed in vitro proliferative response against DNP- or TNP-conjugated protein antigens. The increased uptake of 3H-thymidine induced by DNP-HSA was partially inhibited by the addition of 10(-4)M DNP-EACA. DNP-AECM-Ficoll did not induce any significant proliferative responses in DNP-Tbc-primed T cell population. However, priming with DNP-Tbc augmented anti-DNP IgG antibody response induced with DNP-Ficoll. The augmentation of IgG response was not due to the presence of DNP-primed B cells or anti-DNP antibody. The results showed that the priming with DNP-Tbc induced DNP-reactive T helper cells which could be triggered with DNP-Ficoll. The possible role of mycobacterium in the induction of hapten-specific T helper cells is discussed.

Cell-mediated immunity in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis: cross reactivity between myelin basic protein and mycobacteria antigens.

Guinea pigs injected with Freund's incomplete adjuvant emulsified with guinea pig spinal cord, purified guinea pig myelin basic protein, or human myelin basic protein showed dermal reactivity to both of the basic proteins as well as to mycobacteria antigens. Animals receiving only mycobacteria antigens expressed dermal reactivity to the sensitizing antigen in addition to basic protein. This cross reactivity may help explain the role of mycobacteria in inducing and protecting against EAE, and may have important implications concerning human demyelinating diseases.

The role of mycobacteria and the effect of proteolytic degradation of thyroglobulin on the production of autoimmune thyroiditis.

Data are presented which suggest that the initial event involved in experimental autoimmune thyroiditis following injection of rabbits with homologous thyroglobulin in complete Freund's adjuvant is alteration of the thyroglobulin. Alteration of the thyroglobulin does not occur during incorporation into the adjuvant or in vitro storage in the adjuvant, and the mycobacteria in the adjuvant have no direct effect on the thyroglobulin. Most likely, the alteration results from an increase in hydrogen ion concentration within cells or local areas in the granuloma and the subsequent action of proteolytic enzymes. These conditions are probably established in the granuloma as the result of neutrophilic response to the mycobacteria in the adjuvant. Rabbits injected with aqueous preparations of homologous thyroglobulin partially degraded in vitro with pepsin at acid pH produced antibody to native thyroglobulin and developed thyroiditis. Most of these rabbits responded to a subsequent injection of native thyroglobulin given 1 month later.