Bacillus Calmette-Guerin down-regulates CD1b induction by granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor in human peripheral blood monocytes.
Non-peptide antigens (e.g. glycolipids of microbial origin) presented by monocyte-associated CD1 molecules to T cells appear to play an important role in host immunity against tuberculosis and other pathogenic bacteria. Since vaccination with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) has limited efficacy, the influence of viable BCG organisms on the induction of CD1b antigen by granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) has been tested in adherent mononuclear cells obtained from peripheral blood of healthy donors. The results indicate that the vaccine reduces substantially CD1b induction by GM-CSF. On the other hand, BCG was found to promote a slight increase in the expression of this molecule on target cells not exposed to GM-CSF. Attempts to reverse the antagonistic effects of BCG on GM-CSF with high concentrations of GM-CSF, alone, or associated with IL-4, were unsuccessful. Moreover, mycobacteria suppression by 10 microg/ml of rifampin, did not affect BCG influence on CD1b induction. The present results suggest that mycobacterium-induced impairment of the CD1 system could play a role in the unsatisfactory results obtained with BCG vaccination.
Department of Neuroscience, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy.
S P
SP
Prete
A
A
Giuliani
E
E
Iona
L
L
Fattorini
G
G
Orefici
O
O
Franzese
E
E
Bonmassar
G
G
Graziani
D000904:Antibiotics, Antitubercular / Q000494:pharmacology; D018949:Antigens, CD1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D009163:Mycobacterium bovis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D012293:Rifampin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors
D000904:Antibiotics, Antitubercular; D018949:Antigens, CD1; C419394:CD1b antigen; D015847:Interleukin-4; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D012293:Rifampin