title: T- and B-lymphocyte-independent formation of alveolar macrophage-derived multinucleated giant cells in murine Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.
abstract: Multinucleated giant cells developed in Pneumocystis carinii-diseased gene disruption mutant mice deficient in major histocompatibility complex class II molecules, T-cell receptor alpha beta cells, or all mature T and B lymphocytes. These findings demonstrate lymphocyte-independent fusion of alveolar macrophages under morbid conditions. Pulmonary parasite burden seems to be a decisive factor in multinucleation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, University of Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hanano
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Reifenberg
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kaufmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002459:Cell Fusion; D015726:Giant Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D006183:H-2 Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D006183:H-2 Antigens