title: In vitro lymphocyte response to purified protein derivative, BCG and Mycobacterium leprae in a population not exposed to leprosy.
abstract: Lymphocytes from 14 BCG-vaccinated donors, seven tuberculin positive and seven tuberculin negative by skin testing, were stimulated in vitro with four mycobacterial antigens, purified protein derivative (PPD), PPD/BCG, whole BCG bacilli, and whole Mycobacterium leprae and also with Candida antigen and phytohemagglutinin. The response was measured by incorporation of (3)H-labeled thymidine. The response to PPD, PPD/BCG, and BCG was found to correlate with the result of skin testing with turberculin. The turberculin-positive group also responded more strongly to M. leprae, whereas the two groups did not differ significantly in their response to Candida antigen or phytohemagglutinin. These findings indicate a certain degree of cross-reactivity between BCG and M. leprae. The use of the lymphocyte transformation test to measure antigenic cross-reactivity is discussed.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000276:immunology; D002469:Cell Separation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003429:Cross Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D009163:Mycobacterium bovis; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000276:immunology*; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism; D014316:Tritium; D014373:Tuberculin; D014374:Tuberculin Test
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D037102:Lectins; D014373:Tuberculin; D014316:Tritium; D013936:Thymidine