Protective immunity and granulomatous inflammation is mediated in vivo by T cells reactive to epitopes common to avirulent and listeriolysin-negative mutants of Listeria monocytogenes.
The ability of several listeriolysin O-negative mutants of the EGD and NCTC 7973 strains of Listeria monocytogenes to activate specific T cell responses in vitro and in vivo was determined. T cell lines from different inbred mouse strains and derived T cell clones elicited by L. monocytogenes, strain EGD, which are able to adoptively transfer protection and granuloma formation were examined. Specificity testing revealed no differences between listeriolysin-positive and -negative strains to induce proliferation of the T cell lines and clones. Similar results were obtained when we examined CD4+ T cell-mediated granuloma formation in the livers of mice previously immunized with viable bacteria of the virulent strain. Granulomatous inflammation could be elicited by iv application of heat-killed bacteria of listeriolysin-positive and of -negative bacteria. Protective immunity to listerial infections and granulomatous inflammation therefore appears to be mediated by T cells recognizing epitopes on listerial antigens that are shared by both pathogenic and nonpathogenic Listeria strains.
Brocke
S
S
Institute for Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Immunology, Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany.
Chakraborty
T
T
Mohasseb
I
I
Reichert
H
H
Lombardi
O
O
Hahn
H
H
Mielke
M
M
D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007114:Immunization; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D016219:Immunotherapy, Adoptive; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D008088:Listeriosis / Q000209:etiology; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009154:Mutation; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated; C038705:hlyA protein, Listeria monocytogenes