Studies on the immunopotentiating effects of a streptococcal preparation, OK-432. I. Enhancement of T cell-mediated immune responses of mice.
The effects of the anti-tumour agent OK-432 on the immune response to hamster erythrocytes (HRBC) and nucleated chicken erythrocytes (CRBC) were studied in inbred SL mice. Mice were treated repeatedly with OK-432 before immunization with erythrocytes in saline. The cytotoxicity of CRBC-primed spleen cells, as demonstrated by 51Cr release from labelled CRBC, was markedly increased by treatment with OD-432. The delayed footpad reaction to CRBC was significantly augmented by treatment with OK-432. These results in mice indicate that OK-432 can enhance the cellular immune responses which require the contribution of T cells. Such an activation of T cells by OK-432 was observed in the humoral immune response to a trinitrophenyl group. Augmentation of anti-hapten antibody production, suggesting the enhancement of helper T cell activity by OK-432, was noticed after immunization with trinitrophenyl conjugated to erythrocytes. Furthermore, this enhancement of helper T cell activity by OK-432 was confirmed by utilizing an adoptive transfer system. These results support the possibility that T cell activation may be one of the important effects of OK-432 as an immunopotentiator.
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D001688:Biological Products / Q000276:immunology*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D007112:Immunity, Maternally-Acquired; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010844:Picibanil / Q000276:immunology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D001688:Biological Products; D010844:Picibanil