ABSTRACT
Adoptive transfer of T lymphocytes harvested from spleen of Rickettsia conorii-infected DBA/2 mice to intact and cyclophosphamide- (CPA-) pretreated syngeneic mice protected the latter from lethal infection caused by R, conorii. Protection from infection was not observed in recipient mice given immune serum or B lymphocytes and macrophages from the spleens of convalescent mice. The protective effect was most pronounced after intravenous transfer of lymphocytes obtained from donor mice on day 14 post infection. Lethal infection was not prevented by transfer of lymphocytes harvested on day 50 p. i., although at this interval the donor mice were still resistant to reinfection with F. conorii.
Subject(s)
Boutonneuse Fever/immunology , Immunization, Passive , Rickettsiaceae Infections/immunology , T-Lymphocytes/immunology , Animals , B-Lymphocytes/immunology , Macrophages/immunology , Mice , Mice, Inbred DBA/genetics , Spleen/immunology , T-Lymphocytes/transplantationABSTRACT
Delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) was studied in the macrophage migration inhibition test, antibody titers in the CFT and functional activity of spleen macrophages, obtained from guinea-pigs infected with R. conori, in cell cultures. No direct correlation between antibody synthesis and functional macrophage activity accompanied by the development of DTH was revealed. The most pronounced protective function of macrophages could be observed during the decrease of antibody titers and the extinction of DTH.
