T-CELL AND B-CELL IN THE TRANSFER OF IMMUNITY AGAINST TRICHINELLA-SPIRALIS IN MICE

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  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 37  (1) , 103-109
Abstract
Enriched population of T [thymus-derived] or B [bone marrow-derived] cells, prepared by nylon wool filtration of mesenteric node lymphocytes from mice infected with T. spiralis transferred immunity to normal and irradiated syngeneic mice. In cell recipients, there was an early loss of fecundity by the worms and accelerated expulsion from the intestine. Treatment with anti-Thy 1.2 serum to deplete contaminating T cells severely reduced or abolished the protective activity of enriched B cell fractions. Replacement of contaminating T cells by normal T cells restored the capacity of B cell fractions to reduce worm fecundity but did not result in worm expulsion. Comparatively small numbers of T cells (3 .times. 106) alone were effective in transferring immunity to irradiated mice. The T cells may act not as helper cell, but are involved in the generation of changes in the intestinal environment that are detrimental to worm survival.