Priming of a beta-galactosidase (beta-GAL)-specific type 1 response in BALB/c mice infected with beta-GAL-transfected Leishmania major.
To determine whether an ongoing response to Leishmania major would affect the response to a non-cross-reacting, non-leishmanial antigen, susceptible BALB/c mice and resistant C3H mice were infected with L. major parasites expressing Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase (beta-GAL); this parasite was designated L. major-betaGAL. BALB/c and C3H mice responded to infection with L. major-betaGAL by mounting a CD4 T-cell response to both parasite antigens and to the reporter antigen, beta-GAL. The phenotypes of these T cells were characterized after generating T-cell lines from infected mice. As expected, BALB/c mice responded to infection with L. major-betaGAL by producing interleukin 4 in response to the parasite and C3H mice produced gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) in response to the parasite and beta-GAL. Interestingly, however, BALB/c mice produced IFN-gamma in response to beta-GAL. Taken together, these results demonstrate that priming of IFN-gamma-producing cells can occur in BALB/c mice despite the fact the animals are simultaneously mounting a potent Th2 response to L. major.
Chakkalath
H R
HR
Department of Tropical Public Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Siddiqui
A A
AA
Shankar
A H
AH
Dobson
D E
DE
Beverley
S M
SM
Titus
R G
RG
D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D018320:Leishmania major / Q000276:immunology*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000276:immunology*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008262:Macrophage Activation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D014162:Transfection; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000276:immunology*
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D001616:beta-Galactosidase