Macrophage nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activation by Nocardia opaca fractions and 15- and 56-kD isolated antigens.
The Gram-positive bacterium, Nocardia opaca, is a source of substances with adjuvant effect, ability to stimulate macrophages and natural killer cells for enhanced cytotoxity and cytokine production and B lymphocytes for polyclonal immunoglobulin secretion. We determined the immunogenicity of isolated N. opaca fractions and prepared MoAbs against immunogenic water-soluble mitogen (NWSM). Two main proteins of molecular mass 15 and 56 kD were detected in western blot analysis and isolated by affinity chromatography using anti-NWSM MoAb B7/7. Both these isolated nocardial antigens were found to stimulate mouse peritoneal macrophage NOS. The effect of 5 micrograms NWSM was comparable to that of 5 micrograms lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or 20 U of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) added to cell cultures. The MoAb B7/7 decreased No2- production induced by NWSM or by isolated nocardial antigens, but did not significantly influence the production elicited by LPS or IFN-gamma. On the other hand, NOS activation by NWSM was not affected by anti-IFN-gamma MoAb. The possible independent pathway for IFN-gamma and NWSM macrophage activation is discussed.
Tucková
L
L
Department of Immunology, Czech Academy of Science, Prague.
Zídek
Z
Z
Hanikýrová
M
M
Cukrowska
B
B
Tlaskalová-Hogenová
H
H
Barot-Ciorbaru
R
R
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001667:Binding, Competitive / Q000276:immunology; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000201:enzymology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008934:Mitogens / Q000276:immunology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D009615:Nocardia / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D008934:Mitogens; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase