Coxiella burnetii in polymorphic lymphocytes in tissue and blood of patients with polymorphic reticulosis.
Coxiella burnetii is a well-known causative agent of granulomatous inflammation and an inducer of morphological changes and transformation of human B lymphocytes in vitro. An association of the organism with polymorphic reticulosis (PMR), a malignant granulomatous inflammation characterized by polymorphic lymphocytes, was examined. The infection of C. burnetii was demonstrated in all cases tested, especially in polymorphic lymphocytes. Also the presence of morphologically transformed peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) infected with C. burnetii was demonstrated. In cultures of blood lymphocytes, C. burnetii-infected polymorphic cells identified as B cells became immortalized in vitro. These findings implicate the role of C. burnetii in the process of PMR.
Lee
W Y
WY
Department of Microbiology, Yonsei University, College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Lee
J M
JM
Park
K H
KH
Park
C
C
Chang
M
M
Hong
W P
WP
Park
I Y
IY
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001483:Base Sequence; D016997:Coxiella burnetii / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016399:Lymphoma, T-Cell / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000382:microbiology*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000235:genetics
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase