Viability of Mycobacterium leprae inside macrophages from different strains of mice and possible genetic control.
Peritoneal macrophages from Swiss white mice in vitro tolerated Mycobacterium leprae and allowed metabolism of the bacteria leading to release of bacteria-specific antigenic protein. This was associated with the maintenance of viability of the bacilli inside the cells. Macrophages from C57BL mice reduced viability of M. leprae after phagocytosis, and this was associated with the production of superoxide. Blockage of superoxide production resulted in maintaining viability of the cells of these mouse strains. Associated with loss of viability of the bacilli is the absence of the production of antigenic protein in the lysate. Interestingly, the maintenance of viability or loss of viability and the factors controlling such viability in the macrophages of Swiss white and C57BL mice, respectively, appeared to be genetically controlled.
Nair
I
I
Foundation for Medical Research, Worli, Bombay, India.
Varadkar
D
D
Mahadevan
P R
PR
D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D008264:Macrophages / Q000382:microbiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D010529:Peritoneal Cavity; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000235:genetics*; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D013481:Superoxides