title: In vitro proliferation and production of gamma interferon by murine CD4+ cells in response to Cryptosporidium parvum antigen.
abstract: Spleen cells from mice immunized with Cryptosporidium parvum were enriched for T cells by passage over an affinity chromatography column. The proliferative response of these cells was > 2-fold higher than the response of unenriched cells. T-enriched cells were enriched further for either CD4+ cells or CD8+ cells. The proliferative response of CD4-enriched cells was > 4-fold higher than the response by unenriched cells. CD8+ cells were essentially nonresponsive to C. parvum antigen. Culture supernatant fractions from these variously enriched splenocyte populations were assayed for cytokine production. Cultures containing CD4+ cells produced gamma interferon and interleukin-2 following incubation with C. parvum antigen. None of the cultures produced interleukin-4. Production of gamma interferon and interleukin-2, but not interleukin-4, is characteristic of the previously described Th1 helper cell subset. Our data indicate that a subset of murine lymphocytes consistent with the Th1 helper cell phenotype proliferates following in vitro stimulation with C. parvum antigen.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Ames, Iowa 50010-0070.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Harp
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Whitmire
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sacco
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D016785:Cryptosporidium parvum / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D007371:Interferon-gamma