IMMUNITY TO TRICHINELLA-SPIRALIS .1. TRANSFER OF RESISTANCE BY 2 CLASSES OF LYMPHOCYTES

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 33  (6) , 787-795
Abstract
Rats can be solidly immunized against T. spiralis by a series of methyridine-terminated oral infections with T. spiralis larvae. Injections of thoracic duct lymphocytes (TDL) obtained from such animals can protect normal rats against a Trichinella challenge. The protective cells belong to 2 populations which differ with respect to their adherence to affinity columns prepared with rabbit antibody to rat F(ab'')2. Immune lymphocytes in the column-adherent B [bone marrow-derived] cell fraction are inhibited by vinblastine, whereas those in the non-adherent, T [thymus-derived] cell fraction are resistant to this drug. Acquired resistance to T. spiralis is apparently mediated by 2 classes of lymphocytes: B cells which are delivered to the thoracic duct and hence to the blood while still in active cycle, and T cells which have a potentially long life-span and presumably belong to a pool of recirculating small lymphocytes.