Immunomodulating activity of meningococcal antigens.
A preparation of meningococcal antigens (MA) extracted in CaCl2, and containing mostly outer membrane proteins, was strongly mitogenic for murine B lymphocytes. Given to mice in vitro, MA markedly impaired subsequent in vivo T-cell responses of splenocytes. Suppression of normal T splenocytes in vitro occurred with both adherent (Ad) and nonadherent (NA) splenocytes from MA-sensitized mice. B cells were much less affected by the suppression induced by MA, and only Ad cells could convey in vitro the low level impairment of B-cell proliferation. Strong T-cell suppression associated with a B-cell mitogen is also produced by bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) and Corynebacterium parvum. The possible role of these phenomena in meningococcal disease is discussed.
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002455:Cell Division; D005260:Female; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000276:immunology*; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial