Klebsiella pneumoniae glycoprotein RU-41740 enhances resistance of mice against Mycoplasma arthritidis-induced arthritis.
The effect of a purified glycoprotein extract from Klebsiella pneumoniae with non-specific immunostimulating properties (RU 41740) on the development and course of mycoplasma arthritis was investigated. Male A/J mice aged 2-3 months were given RU-41740 either intraperitoneally (i.p.) or orally prior to injection with Mycoplasma arthritidis. RU-41740 injected i.p. at 0.1 mg kg-1 or given orally at 1 mg kg-1 prior to the infection and subsequently on alternate days enhanced the resistance of mice to mycoplasma arthritis (P less than 0.001). Doses of 1 mg kg-1 i.p. or 10 mg kg-1 orally did not modify the course of the arthritis significantly, probably due to immunosuppressive factors from monocytes. It is suggested that RU-41740 protects the mice by stimulating macrophages. This immunostimulant might prove useful in the treatment of mycoplasma diseases, especially in the immunocompromised host.
University of Athens, Medical School, Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Greece.
E
E
Kaklamani
Y
Y
Koumantaki
D
D
Karalis
M
M
Rommain
P
P
Smets
P
P
Kaklamanis
C C
CC
Blackwell
D M
DM
Weir
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C037567:glycoprotein, Klebsiella pneumoniae