title: Differential effect of culture epimastigotes and blood-form trypomastigotes on normal mouse splenocyte responsiveness to mitogens.
abstract: Blood form trypomastigotes of the Y strain of T. cruzi, produced a strong inhibition of the blastogenic response to T and B cell mitogens, of the C3H/He, C57BL/6 and BALB/cJ strains of mice, while culture epimastigotes of the Y strain kept in a medium that allows parasite growth at 26 degrees, 30 degrees, 34 degrees and 37 degrees C produced a strong stimulatory effect that was even higher than the effect of the mitogens alone. Both the inhibitory or the stimulatory effects were dose-dependent. The stimulatory effect of epimastigotes was also temperature-dependent producing increased stimulation indexes as the temperature of parasite cultures was raised. Metabolically active, living parasites seemed to be necessary for an improved lymphocyte stimulation suggesting a potential role of secreted metabolites as polyclonal activators of mouse lymphocytes.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000276:immunology; D003470:Culture Media; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology*; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D003470:Culture Media; D008934:Mitogens