LACK OF CELL-MEDIATED CYTOTOXICITY TOWARDS CHLAMYDIA TRACHOMATIS INFECETD TARGET CELLS IN HUMANS

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Abstract
Induction of cell-mediated cytotoxicity towards C. trachomatis infected target cells was studied in humans. Phytohemagglutinin-derived lymphoblasts infected with inactivated or virulent LGV-2 chlamydial particles were used as target cells. Chalamydial primed T cell blasts or specific, cloned T cells were used as effector cells. A highly sensitive 18 h lytic assay employing 111In-labeled target cells was used. Specific cytotoxicity towards C. trachomatis infected target cells in humans could not be detected. This was the case regardless of the origin of the effector cells or the various protocols tested. This assay was capable of yielding significant positive results with effector cells primed to alloantigens. Thus, cell-mediated cytotoxicity towards bacterial infected target cells probably does not play a major role.