ISSN:
1573-7284
Keywords:
Exotoxin A
;
Athymic mice
;
T lymphocytes
;
Proliferation
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A has been observed to exert modulatory effects on the immune response. The present study examines the ability of exotoxin A to induce proliferation of splenocytes from athymic nu/nu mice. We observed that exotoxin A induced the proliferation of athymic nude splenocytes which could be abrogated by heating the toxin at 70°C or by preincubation of the toxin with rabbit anti-exotoxin A antiserum. Photoaffinity-labelled toxin sigificantly induced splenocyte proliferation although the relative activity was reduced. Maximum nude splenocyte proliferation was observed at a toxin dose of 100 ng. This same dose was shown previously for athymic splenocytes to induce an enhanced response to the thymus-dependent (TD) antigen, sheep red blood cells (SRBC). The increased [3H]-TdR uptake in athymic splenocytes stimulated by exotoxin A was initiated by 24 hours and continued to day 10, Nude splenocytes depleted of Ig+ and Ia+ cells were induced to proliferate by exotoxin A. Cyclosporin A addition abrogated the ability of exotoxin A to induce proliferation. These results suggest that Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A can stimulate the proliferation of splenic T lymphocytes in athymic nu/nu mice.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00152688
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