title: BALB/c mice display more enhanced BCG vaccine induced Th1 and Th17 response than C57BL/6 mice but have equivalent protection.
abstract: It is generally assumed that the inbred mouse strains BALB/c (H-2(d)) and C57BL/6 (H-2(b)) respond to mycobacterial infection with distinct polarisation of T helper responses, with C57BL/6 predisposed to Th1 and BALB/c to Th2. We investigated this in a BCG-immunisation, Mycobacterium bovis challenge model. Following immunisation, lung and spleen cell cytokine responses to in vitro re-stimulation with a cocktail of seven secreted, immunogenic, recombinant mycobacterial proteins were determined. In both lung and spleen, BALB/c cells produced at least 2-fold more IFN-γ, and up to 7-fold more IL-2 and IL-17 than C57BL/6 cells, whereas IL-10 production was reciprocally increased in C57BL/6 mice. These data suggest that, contrary to reports in the literature, specific mycobacterial antigens are able to induce strong Th1 and Th17 responses in BALB/c mice following BCG vaccination, whilst in C57BL/6 mice, the Th1 response is partly counterbalanced by IL-10. After subsequent M. bovis low dose challenge, protection, as measured in the lungs and dissemination to the spleen, was equivalent in BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice, indicating that BCG-induced immunity was equivalent in both strains. Thus, the differential immune responses do not appear to have a role in protection, but further, as yet unidentified, specific immune responses play a significant role.
authors.affiliation: Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA), Woodham Lane, Addlestone KT15 3NB, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: M Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Garcia-Pelayo
authors.affiliation: Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA), Woodham Lane, Addlestone KT15 3NB, United Kingdom; Current address: Orbio Laboratoire, 12C rue du 35eme Regiment d'Aviation, 69500 Bron, France.
authors.forename: Véronique S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Bachy
authors.affiliation: Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA), Woodham Lane, Addlestone KT15 3NB, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Daryan A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Kaveh
authors.affiliation: Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA), Woodham Lane, Addlestone KT15 3NB, United Kingdom. Electronic address: philip.hogarth@apha.gsi.gov.uk.
authors.forename: Philip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Hogarth
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009163:Mycobacterium bovis / Q000276:immunology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014400:Tuberculosis, Splenic / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D016207:Cytokines; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
keywords: BCG; Th1; Th17; Tuberculosis; Vaccine