Abstract
During infection with the mouse pneumonitis biovar of Chlamydia trachomatis, heterozygous (nu/+) mice with relatively intact T cell function develop both delayed hypersensitivity to C trachomatis antigen and antigen-specific lymphocytes transformation, whereas athymic nude (nu/nu) mice do not. Nu/nu mice are protected against death from mouse pneumonitis by transfer of immune T cells from nu/+ mice, which are more resistant to C trachomatis. While this enables athymic mice to make antibody to C trachomatis (which does not occur without reconstitution), resistance correlates best with development of antigen-specific lymphocyte transformation in the recipient animals. During infection nu/+ mice develop activated alveolar macrophages (by both morphological and functional criteria) while nu/nu mice do not. Nu/+ mice that have been preinfected with Histoplasma capsulatum to activate cellular immunity become more resistant to C trachomatis than do nu/+ controls. Cell-mediated immunity to C trachomatis pneumonia is T cell dependent and is important in host defense.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 630-639 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Journal of Infectious Diseases |
Volume | 149 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1984 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology and Allergy
- Infectious Diseases