Cytotoxicity of antiserum sensitized hemolytic streptococcal M protein fraction on cultured myocardial cells.
We have studied cytotoxicity of antisera of monkeys sensitized to streptococcal M protein fraction, which was prepared by the method of Lancefield et al., on cultured myocardial cells. These antisera exerted a significantly higher cytotoxic effect on the myocardial cells than normal monkey sera, and this cytotoxic effect seemed to be organ-specific. In the presence of normal monkey lymphocytes, the antisera had a cytotoxic effect on myocardial cells, but normal sera in the presence of normal monkey lymphocytes had no cytotoxic effects. These data suggest that M protein fraction of hemolytic streptococcus plays an important role in the pathogenesis of rheumatic carditis.
D000818:Animals; D000920:Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000276:immunology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009206:Myocardium / Q000276:immunology*
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D007106:Immune Sera; C014689:streptococcal M protein