Activation of normal murine B cells by Echinococcus granulosus.
Echinococcus granulosus protoscolex (PSC) infection of BALB/c mice led, after 4 days, to raised numbers of cells forming plaques with trinitrophenyl-treated sheep red cells and bromelain-treated mouse red cells. The findings were similar in athymic and euthymic CBA mice. Activation of B cells was accompanied by secretion of immunoglobulin, as indicated by the reverse plaque technique. In addition, co-culture of PSC with the 7OZ/3 pre-B-cell led to the induction of differentiation, resulting in the expression of surface immunoglobulin (Ig). It is concluded that E. granulosus is a polyclonal activator of B cells inducing both transformation and differentiation, and that the effect is thymus-independent.
Cox
D A
DA
Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Liverpool, U.K.
Marshall-Clarke
S
S
Dixon
J B
JB
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004446:Echinococcus / Q000276:immunology*; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude