INHIBITION OF THE PROLIFERATIVE RESPONSE OF PERIPHERAL-BLOOD LYMPHOCYTES TO MYCOBACTERIAL OR FUNGAL ANTIGENS BY CO-STIMULATION WITH ANTIGENS FROM VARIOUS MYCOBACTERIAL SPECIES

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 44  (3) , 593-598
Abstract
Soluble antigen preparations from Mycobacterium leprae are reported to inhibit the response to other stimuli of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from lepromatous leprosy [LL] cases (BL[borderline lepromatous]/LL) and also from tuberculoid [TT] cases (TT/BT [borderline tuberculoid]) and normal donors. These findings were confirmed. A similar suppressive effect that is exerted by antigens from M. vaccae, M. nonchromogenicum and, to a lesser extent, M. tuberculosis and M. kansasii is reported. Moreover, suppression is seen using peripheral blood mononuclear cells from individuals unlikely to have encountered the organism used. The suppression is not due to toxicity of the antigen preparation and is not indomethacin sensitive. It involves a cell found in the E-rosetting population which loses its ability to suppress or be suppressed after 48 h in culture. A pharmacological effect of cell wall peptidoglycolipids or the triggering of suppressor cells specific for common mycobacterial antigens are possible explanations.