title: [Infection and elimination of Mycobacterium leprae in SCID C.B.-17 mice (severe combined immunodeficiency)].
abstract: Previous studies documented that T-cell deficient nude mice failed to control M. leprae infection. In the present investigation we monitored the growth of M. leprae for up to 15 months in the SCID C.B.-17 mouse, a host deficient in both T and B lymphocytes. At 8 months post-infection 10(8) organisms/foot-pad were recovered from SCID mice vs 5 x 10(6) in normal BALB/c mice. Thereafter the number of bacilli decreased rapidly in mice infected with high-dose inoculum (10(7)); however, at all doses SCID mice eventually cleared M. leprae. During infection both T and B cells as well as serum Ig remained as low as in uninfected mice; however, in the spleen MAC-1+ cells which include macrophages and NK cells were substantially increased. These results suggest that MAC-1+ cells are involved in the anti-mycobacteria-1 defence mechanisms adopted by SCID mice to compensate their deficiency in T and B cells.
authors.affiliation: Armauer Hansen Research Institute (A.H.R.I.), Addis-Abéba, Ethiopie.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Xabier
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Howe
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Frommel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D002452:Cell Count; D005260:Female; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D007918:Leprosy / Q000150:complications*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D016511:Severe Combined Immunodeficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins
vernacular_title: Infection et élimination de Mycobacterium leprae par la souris SCID C.B.-17 (déficit immunitaire combiné sévère).