title: Immunological activities of a lymphocyte mitogen isolated from coenurus fluid of Taenia multiceps (Cestoda).
abstract: The purification of a mitogen from Taenia multiceps coenurus fluid has been previously reported. In the present study, this activity, which was independent of endotoxin, stimulated the expression of lymphocyte IL-2 and Fc receptors, enhanced mitotic response to phylohaemogglutinin and concanavalin A and antagonised the previously described suppressive effects of the macrophage modifying fraction of coenurus fluid. The mitogen also increased peritoneal macrophage count and viability, Fc receptor expression and Fc receptor-mediated phagocytosis. The mitogenic activity could be destroyed by a combination of protease and amylase, but not by either enzyme alone. It is suggested that the mitogen forms part of a homeostatic mechanism for the preservation of a balanced host-parasite relationship.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Rakha
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Dixon
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Carter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006706:Homeostasis; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000469:parasitology; D013621:Taenia / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2