B and T lymphocytes regulated by idiotype anti-idiotype interactions inhibit delayed-type hypersensitivity to BCG in mice.
Mice infected subcutaneously with 2 X 10(7) CFU of Mycobacterium bovis strain BCG (BCG) were able to mount a specific DTH response, whereas mice infected intravenously with the same dose of microorganisms were not. The suppression turned out to be mediated by id+ anti-PPD B lymphocytes, which arose very early during the infectious process and induced anti-id B lymphocytes. These cells were found at Day 4 after infection and exerted their effect by activating antigen-specific suppressor T lymphocytes, which affected the efferent phase of the DTH response. These results clearly indicate that the activation of a complex immunosuppressive circuit represents a mechanism by which BCG may interfere with the host's immune response already during the very early phases of infection.
D000818:Animals; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000502:physiology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology*; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes / Q000276:immunology*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology
D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes