T-lymphocytes in experimental Leishmania amazonensis infection: comparison between immunized and naive BALB/c mice

Highly susceptible naive BALB/c mice or mice that had previously been immunized i.v. with solubilized homologous antigen (partially resistant) were infected with Leishmania amazonensis. Histologically, the main differences between the two groups were lymphocytic infiltration and macrophage activation. Assays of T-cell function at 3 and 10 weeks after infection revealed that purified T-cells did not proliferate following treatment with leishmania antigen. A mitogenic anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (mAb) failed to activate T-cells after 3 weeks of infection as judged by proliferation and IL-2 secretion assays. After 10 weeks of infection, anti-CD3 mAb fully activated T-cells to proliferation and IL-2 secretion. On the other hand, T-cells released IL-3 in response to leishmania antigen, anti-CD3 mAb and anti-Thy1 mAb at 3 and 10 weeks post-infection. Surprisingly, a mitogenic anti-Thy 1 mAb (G7) fully activated T-cells even at 3 weeks of infection as judged by proliferative and IL-2 secretion assays. No significant differences were found in the proliferative or interleukin secretory responses of T-cells from animals that had been infected in either the presence or the absence of prior immunization. Since the Thy1 triggering pathway has different accessory cell and cytokine requirements than does the CD3: TCR lymphocyte activation pathway, it is possible that immunization was more effective in changing the cellular interactions of the T-lymphocyte than in altering its intrinsic capabilities.