Modifications in the handling in vitro of 125I-labelled keyhole limpet haemocyanin by peritoneal macrophages from mice pretreated with the adjuvant Corynebacterium parvum.
Peritoneal macrophages were isolated from C. parvum-pretreated (CP) and normal CBAT6T6 mice and their in vitro handling of 125I-labelled Keyhole limpet haemocyanin (125I-labelled KLH) studied in relation to the humoral anti-KLH responses induced in corresponding animals. CP pretreatment exerted an adjuvant effect on the production of anti-KLH antibodies, both IgM and IgG, which was also demonstrable with a normally subimmunogenic dose of antigen. There was a clear difference between the handling of 125I-labelled KLH by CP and normal macrophages. The initial uptake of the antigen by CP macrophages was slower than that by normal ones. Moreover, 125I-labelled KLH was degraded to a lesser extent within CP macrophages, although the rates of antigen digestion were similar in both kinds of cells. The lower extent of 125I-labelled KLH degradation within the CP macrophages was due to a larger amount of antigen being retained on the cell membrane, where it escapes digestion. The findings suggest that intensified presentation to lymphocytes of antigen on the macrophage surface could be a causal factor in the adjuvant action of CP.
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000818:Animals; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006433:Hemocyanins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000201:enzymology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D011425:Propionibacterium acnes / Q000276:immunology*
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D006433:Hemocyanins