Histoplasma capsulatum and V beta a mice: cellular immune responses and susceptibility patterns.
Certain strains of mice, designated V beta a, have a deletion of the gene segments encoding the beta chain of the T-cell receptor variable region. These mice do not express 40 to 50% of the T-cell receptor V beta chains. In this study, we examined the influence of this deletion on susceptibility to Histoplasma capsulatum. In addition, H. capsulatum-injected V beta a mice were tested for their capacity to generate T-cell dependent responses to H. capsulatum antigens. Susceptibility profiles of V beta a mice, SWR/J (H-2q), SJL/J (H-2s) and C57L-(H-2b), were compared to V beta b strains, C57BL/6 (H-2b) and DBA/l (H-2q), following intravenous (IV) injection of sublethal and lethal inocula of H. capsulatum yeast cells. One week after injection of 6 x 10(5) yeast cells, the spleens of SWR/J, SJL/J and C57L mice contained 5- to 7-fold fewer colony forming units (CFU) than spleens of C57BL/6 mice. Approximately 50% fewer CFU of H. capsulatum were recovered from the spleens of DBA/l mice compared to those from C57BL/6 animals. Subsequently, groups of mice were challenged IV with either 1.5 x 10(7) or 7.5 x 10(6) yeast cells and observed for 30 days. Survival of SWR/J,SJL/J, C57L and DBA/l mice was significantly prolonged compared to C57BL/6 mice. V beta a and DBA/l mice injected with viable H. capsulatum yeast cells mounted a delayed-type hypersensitivity response to an extract from the cell wall and cell membrane of yeast cells and to HIS-62, a purified antigen derived therefrom.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Deepe
G S
GS
Department of Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Ohio 45267-0560.
D000818:Animals; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000276:immunology; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006658:Histoplasma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006660:Histoplasmosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality; D013154:Spleen / Q000382:microbiology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta