RELATIONSHIP OF ANTI-TUBERCULOUS PROTECTION TO LUNG GRANULOMA PRODUCED BY INTRAVENOUS-INJECTION OF SYNTHETIC 6-O-MYCOLOYL-N-ACETYLMURAMYL-L-ALANYL-D-ISOGLUTAMINE WITH OR WITHOUT SPECIFIC ANTIGENS

Google Scholar
  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 40  (4) , 557-564
Abstract
I.v. administration of 6-O-mycoloyl-N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine (mycol-MDP) together with a specific antigen, PPD [purified protein derivative], in a water-in-oil emulsion produced lung granuloma and provided a low but significant grade of protection in mice against tuberculous infection within 4 wk. These products when given in an oil-in-water emulsion did not produce granuloma. Mycol-MDP alone produced comparable lung granuloma in C57Bl/6 mice, high responders to BCG cell walls (CW), and C3H/He mice, low responders, 1 wk after the injection. When challenged at this time by aerosol containing virulent bovine tubercle bacilli, they showed significantly increased resistance. The close relationship between lung granuloma and protection against aerosol challenge with Ravenel was confirmed; the extent of lung granuloma at the time of aerosol challenge is crucial for the development of protection in mice immunized with mycol-MDP plus PPD as it is in mice immunized with BCG CW. These findings are not always the case for lung granuloma induced with mycol-MDP alone.