Recovery from T cell depletion during murine listeriosis and effect on a T-dependent antibody response.
During the infection of mice with Listeria monocytogenes, there is a profound depletion of T (Thy-1+ Ig-) lymphocytes between days 1 and 4, followed by an increase in T cells to three times normal levels by day 9. The recovery of T cell numbers required cell proliferation, being sensitive to vinblastin and cyclophosphamide. Adult thymectomy 6 months before infection had no effect on recovery. The repopulating cells were no more sensitive than normal T cells to hydrocortisone. B lymphocytes (Ig+ cells) and null (Thy-1-Ig-) cells increased from day 1 after the injection of either live or (in contrast to T cells) killed Listeria organisms. Their increase was inhibited by vinblastin and cyclophosphamide. Despite T cell depletion, no depression of the antibody response to the T-dependent antigen, sheep erythrocytes, occurred during infection or when spleen cells were adoptively transferred from infected mice to irradiated recipients.
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000494:pharmacology; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology; D007700:Kinetics; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008088:Listeriosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051379:Mice; D013154:Spleen / Q000503:physiopathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D013934:Thymectomy; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000494:pharmacology
D014747:Vinblastine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D006854:Hydrocortisone