DIFFERENTIAL INVOLVEMENT OF NONSPECIFIC SUPPRESSOR T-CELLS IN 2 LETHAL MURINE MALARIA INFECTIONS

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 45  (2) , 433-438
Abstract
The suppression of the contact sensitivity response to oxazolone in murine malaria is mediated by non-specific T suppressor cells but to a different extent in infection caused by 2 different species of parasite. Depletion of T suppressor cells in vivo and/or anti-Thy 1.2 treatment in vitro indicated that in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei the suppressor effect was largely mediated by T cells. In mice infected with a lethal strain of P. yoelii it was only partly due to T cells; B suppressor cells and/or macrophages also may be involved. Depletion of T suppressor cells in vivo had no effect on the course of the parasitemia or on the survival time. This kind of non-specific immunosuppression cannot be regarded as a major cause of lethality.