title: A 38-kDa antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis predominantly induces the secretion of interleukin-2, interferon-gamma and IgG2a antibodies.
abstract: In the present study, mice of 3 different haplotypes (H-2d, H-2k and H-2b) were sensitized subcutaneously with heat-killed H37Ra or 38-kDa antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Lymphocytes obtained from immunized animals were challenged in vitro with 38-kDa antigen in both cases. The dominant pattern of Th1-like lymphokines (IL-2 and IFN-gamma) and preferential production of 38-kDa specific IgG2a-type antibody were observed. It was noted that 38-kDa antigen was recognized permissively by all 3 strains of mice used in the present study. It was interesting to note that C3H/HeJ mice, which express BCG-resistant alleles showed a higher level of proliferative as well as cytokine response as compared to BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice, which bear BCG-susceptible alleles. These results suggest that not only in recall responses but also during the induction as well as expression phase of the immune response mediated by 38-kDa antigen of M. tuberculosis the Th1-like immune response predominates.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Agrewala
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Mishra
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology; D002460:Cell Line; D005260:Female; D006825:Hybridomas; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000145:classification; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes / Q000032:analysis; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007371:Interferon-gamma