T cells are not sufficient for resistance to Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in mice.
Severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice given spleen cells from immunocompetent donors resolve their pre-existing Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP). However, SCID mice given infusions of thymus cells or spleen cells depleted of cells positive for either immunoglobulin or immune response-associated antigen did not resolve their PCP. Immunofluorescence staining and mitogen responses of spleen cells from the recipient SCID mice confirmed that all groups of mice contained functional T cells but only the mice, reconstituted with nondepleted spleen cells, contained B cells. These results indicate, that T cells alone are not sufficient to resolve PCP in SCID mice and that B cells probably must also be present.
Trudeau Institute, Inc., Saranac Lake, NY 12983.
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Harmsen
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Stankiewicz
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016513:Mice, SCID; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000276:immunology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000637:transplantation; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000637:transplantation