Cellular immunity in natural and experimental infections caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium...

In rabbits sensitized with M. tuberculosis and M. kansasii the of macrophage migration inhibition from the spleen due to antigens of both types of mycobacteria was evaluated. In parallel experiments the release of MIF the indirect migration inhibition was evaluated, using antigens added to lymphocyte suspensions from popliteal nodes of sensitized animals. As an indicator system spleen fragments of intact rabbits were used. In patients excreting M. tuberculosis and M. kansasii (groups of 31 subjects) the release of MIF from lymphocytes in venous blood was investigated, using the same antigens; migration inhibition was also tested on spleen fragments of intact rabbits. Rabbits sensitized with M. kansasii responded by marked migration inhibition induced by both antigens in the direct as well as the indirect test. Marked differences were, however, manifested in animals sensitized with M. tuberculosis: in the homologous system a high reactivity was preserved, however, the heterologous antigen of M. kansasii influenced the migration in the direct and indirect test much less. These differences of reactivity were statistically significant at the 1% and 5% level of significance resp. Similar results as in model experiments were recorded also in patients naturally infected with M. tuberculosis and M. kansasii. In subjects with M. kansasii migration inhibition induced by both antigens was recorded and the differences were not statistically significant. In patients with M. tuberculosis the reactivity to the homologous antigen was more marked than to the heterologous antigen of M. kansasii and this difference was significant at the 1% level of significance.