title: Immunological properties of Actinomyces viscosus: comparison of blastogenic and adjuvant activities.
abstract: A water-soluble extract of Actinomyces viscosus was tested for its capacity to induce deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis in spleen cells from normal mice and to augment the in vitro antibody-forming cell (AFC) response to the T-cell-dependent antigen, sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) by T-cell-deficient adherent spleen cell monolayers from the same mice. Our results indicated that the water-soluble extract induced an in vitro blastogenic response, as assessed by tritiated thymidine incorporation into mouse spleen cells. The water-soluble extract also augmented the antibody response to SRBC. However, after fractionation of the water-soluble extract on Biogel P-300, not all of the fractions induced a blastogenic response and augmented an AFC response to SRBC. This difference in the ability of A. viscosus fractions to induce in vitro responses suggests that the water-soluble extract has multiple immunological properties. Chemical analysis of the water-soluble extract indicated an enrichment for amino acids and amino sugar common to peptidoglycan.
mesh_terms: D000190:Actinomyces / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000596:Amino Acids; D002241:Carbohydrates