title: Modulation of the serological response to meningococcal polysaccharides by cytokines.
abstract: Meningococcal A and C but not B capsular polysaccharides stimulated a low level primary antibody response, predominantly IgM, and no secondary response in 21-day-old CBA/A mice. However, in 56-day-old mice a higher proportion of IgG antibody and a secondary response were produced. When the polysaccharides were injected in conjunction with rDNA derived human interleukin 2 (IL-2) the IgG antibody responses were increased in both age groups and memory cells were primed in the younger mice. IL-2 increased significantly the IgG antibody response to conjugates of A and C polysaccharides with diphtheria mutant protein but exerted a minimal effect on the IgG response to B polysaccharide complexed with aluminium hydroxide and outer membrane proteins. The stimulatory effect of IL-2 on the antibody responses to the polysaccharide antigens was not mediated by T-cells as similar results were obtained in athymic (nu/nu) and thymocompetent (nu/+) mice. However, the response to the A and C oligosaccharide conjugates was T-cell dependent and occurred only in the heterozygotes. In this case the adjuvant effect of IL-2 was seen only in the response to the C polysaccharide conjugate and was transferable with T-lymphocytes from primed animals.
authors.affiliation: Division of Bacteriology, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, EN6 3QG, Hertfordshire, UK.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cortes-Castillo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thorpe
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Corbel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016667:Bacterial Capsules; D016207:Cytokines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008819:Mice, Nude; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D016207:Cytokines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; C039455:capsular polysaccharide, meningococcal group B; C043226:meningococcal group A polysaccharide; C037676:meningococcal group C polysaccharide