Antichlamydial specificity of conjunctival lymphocytes during experimental ocular infection.
Antigen-specific responses to chlamydiae have been demonstrated with lymphocytes isolated from the conjunctiva after primary ocular infection and after topical challenge of chlamydia-immune cynomolgus monkeys with noninfectious, Triton X-100-extracted antigen. Proliferative to viable elementary bodies homologous to the original infecting serovar were demonstrated. In addition, in vitro production of antichlamydial antibody by conjunctival B cells was demonstrated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of culture supernatants collected after 7 to 21 days of culture. These findings demonstrate that antigen-specific lymphocytes appear in the conjunctiva as a result of ocular chlamydial infection and that a noninfectious chlamydial antigen stimulates their reappearance or expansion at the site of original infection.
Whittum-Hudson
J A
JA
Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205.
Taylor
H R
HR
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D002465:Cell Movement; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000276:immunology; D003235:Conjunctivitis, Inclusion / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008252:Macaca fascicularis
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000939:Epitopes