Induction of hyperreactivity to endotoxin in mice by Coxiella burnetii.
Intraperitoneal inoculation of mice with live or killed Coxiella burnetii phase I or phase II cells induced a marked hyperreactivity to the lethal effect of bacterial endotoxin and was accompanied by a marked hepatosplenomegaly. The degree and duration of hyperreactivity depended on the dose of C. burnetii administered and were higher with phase I than with phase II cells. Sensitization to the lethal effects of endotoxin and induction of splenomegaly by phase I C. burnetii cells also proceeded in the endotoxin-resistant C3H/HeJ strain of mice. Preincubation of C. burnetii cells with the corresponding immune serum significantly diminished the ability of phase I but not phase II cells to induce hyperreactivity to endotoxin.
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D003381:Coxiella / Q000276:immunology*; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000276:immunology*; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D011778:Q Fever / Q000276:immunology*; D013163:Splenomegaly
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D004731:Endotoxins