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A 24,000 MW Trypanosoma cruzi antigen is a B-cell activator.
- Source :
-
Immunology [Immunology] 1998 Jun; Vol. 94 (2), pp. 189-96. - Publication Year :
- 1998
-
Abstract
- Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas' disease, is a protozoan parasite that infects humans and other mammals in Central and Latin America. Several alterations of the immune response after infection have been described, such as severe immunosuppression of both cellular and humoral responses and massive polyclonal B- and T-cell activation, including the expansion of self-reactive clones. We have investigated the effects of the intraperitoneal injection of a recombinant 24,000 MW T. cruzi-specific antigen (rTc24) on the immune response of normal and deficient strains of mice. We analysed the in vivo and ex vivo levels of lymphocyte activation and the proliferative responses to rTc24 by determining the expression of CD69 activation marker and the levels of thymidine incorporation by spleen cells. The numbers of antibody-producing cells were determined by ELISPOT and the levels of immunoglobulin in the sera by isotype-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We observed an increased [3H]thymidine ([3H]TdR) incorporation by spleen cells after rTc24 stimulation in vivo and in vitro. This proliferative activity induced by rTc24 was independent of the mouse strain used in the experiments (including C3H/HeJ mice) and ruled out the possibility that rTc24 preparations were contaminated by lipopolysaccharide. The injection of rTc24 protein induced preferentially the activation of B cells, as determined by the increased expression of CD69 molecules on IgM+ spleen cells. Considerable increases of IgM-secreting B cells were determined in both athymic and euthymic BALB/c mice. Mice that are deficient in B cells (BALB.Xid) responded to rTc24 but to a lesser extent. These increases in IgM B-cell numbers were accompanied by elevated levels of IgM immunoglobulins in the sera of injected animals. Our results suggest a role for rTc24 in B-cell activation.
- Subjects :
- Animals
Antigens, CD metabolism
Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte metabolism
Antigens, Protozoan chemistry
Cell Culture Techniques
Cell Division immunology
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Immunoglobulin M metabolism
Lectins, C-Type
Mice
Mice, Inbred BALB C
Molecular Weight
Species Specificity
Spleen immunology
Antigens, Protozoan immunology
B-Lymphocytes immunology
Lymphocyte Activation immunology
Trypanosoma cruzi immunology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0019-2805
- Volume :
- 94
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Immunology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 9741340
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2567.1998.00498.x