Modification of T-cell proliferation and interleukin 2 production in mice infected with Trypanosoma cruzi.
Acute infection of mice with Trypanosoma cruzi results in severe immunodepression and the appearance of autoimmune symptoms. In vitro, concanavalin A-stimulated T cells from spleens of infected animals could neither produce nor respond to interleukin 2. Interleukin 2 production was not restored by addition of exogenous interleukin 1, and proliferative response to concanavalin A was not restored by exogenous interleukin 2. A population of Thy-1-negative cells in the spleen of infected animals was shown to suppress the concanavalin A proliferative response and, to a lesser extent, the production of interleukin 2. These and other symptoms of T. cruzi-infected mice are similar to the immune dysfunction of autoimmune lpr/lpr mice. These findings are discussed in relationship to the pathology of Chagas disease.
D000818:Animals; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D003208:Concanavalin A; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007700:Kinetics; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000276:immunology*
D007376:Interleukin-2; D003208:Concanavalin A