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Production of a suppressor factor by adherent cells from Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected guinea-pigs
Abstract:
Adherent cells from the spleen of guinea-pigs infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) spontaneously released a factor which suppressed the blastogenic response of normal guinea-pig and human peripheral blood lymphocytes to PHA activation. Suppressor factor production was evident within 3 hr of culture, continued for 2 days and diminished thereafter. This effect was not observed in supernatants derived from normal guinea-pig splenic adherent cells or from peripheral blood adherent cells of both normal or M. tuberculosis-infected guinea-pigs. Analysis of the spontaneously generated adherent cell supernatant indicated that it activated a subpopulation of lymphocytes to become suppressor cells. We conclude that adherent cells phagocytosing M. tuberculosis at the site of the lesion release a factor which activates suppressor cells, and that these cells may be important in the cellular unresponsiveness which develops in animals or man with advanced tuberculosis.
Insights
Tuberculosis infection triggers spleen cells to release a factor that suppresses immune responses. This discovery sheds light on cellular unresponsiveness in advanced tuberculosis.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) infection can lead to immune suppression.
- Cellular unresponsiveness is a characteristic of advanced tuberculosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of splenic adherent cells in immune suppression during M. tuberculosis infection.
- To identify the mechanism by which M. tuberculosis influences immune cell function.
Main Methods:
- Culturing splenic adherent cells from M. tuberculosis-infected guinea-pigs.
- Assessing the effect of cell supernatants on lymphocyte blastogenesis.
- Analyzing the activation of lymphocytes by the released factor.
Main Results:
- Spontaneously released factor from infected splenic adherent cells suppressed lymphocyte response to PHA.
- Suppressor factor production occurred within 3 hours and lasted for 2 days.
- The factor activated a subpopulation of lymphocytes to become suppressor cells.
Conclusions:
- Adherent cells phagocytosing M. tuberculosis release a factor that activates suppressor cells.
- These suppressor cells may contribute to the immune unresponsiveness observed in advanced tuberculosis.
- This finding offers insights into the immunopathology of tuberculosis.