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Updated: Aug 18, 2026
The Ex Vivo Culture and Pattern Recognition Receptor Stimulation of Mouse Intestinal Organoids
Published on: May 18, 2016
Cross-reactivity between organ extracts of gnotobiotic mice and enterobacterial common antigen
Abstract:
Organs of gnotobiotic mice were assessed for an Ag (CRA) which cross-reacts with common enterobacterial Ag(CA). To this end, extracts of homogenates of spleens, livers, paired kidneys and colons were examined for their capacities to engender humoral and cellular events in rabbits. The immjnogenicity of CRA in the rabbit cannot be predicted on the basis of CA hemagglutinin-inhibition studies alone. According to this parameter, CRA was present in mouse spleens, livers and paired kidneys but absent in colons. However, the identical preparations, including colons, primed rabbits to engender specific CA hemaglutinins after a single administration of enterobacterial CA. Also, spleens of these same rabbits were colonized with rosette-forming cells against sheep red blood cells treated with various enterobacterial sources of CA. These findings may account, in part, for the apparent refractiveness or equivocal response mice have to administered CA and infectious challenge.
Insights
This study investigated a specific antigen (CRA) in mice, finding its presence in organs like the spleen and liver but not the colon. However, rabbit immune responses indicated that even colonic CRA could prime for antibody production against common enterobacterial antigens (CA).
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Gnotobiotic Research
Background:
- Common enterobacterial antigens (CA) are crucial in gut immunity.
- Gnotobiotic mice models allow controlled study of microbial-host interactions.
- Understanding antigen cross-reactivity is vital for vaccine development and infection control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the presence and immunogenicity of a specific antigen (CRA) in gnotobiotic mouse organs.
- To investigate the capacity of CRA to elicit humoral and cellular immune responses in rabbits.
- To determine if hemagglutinin-inhibition studies alone can predict CRA immunogenicity.
Main Methods:
- Extraction and examination of homogenates from mouse spleen, liver, kidneys, and colon.
- Testing the capacity of these extracts to induce humoral and cellular immune events in rabbits.
- Utilizing hemagglutinin-inhibition assays and rosette-forming cell assays.
Main Results:
- CRA was detected in mouse spleen, liver, and kidneys, but not in colons via hemagglutinin-inhibition.
- Rabbit immune systems primed by these mouse organ extracts (including colons) produced specific CA hemagglutinins after subsequent CA administration.
- Rabbit spleens showed rosette-forming cells against CA-treated sheep red blood cells.
Conclusions:
- The immunogenicity of CRA in rabbits is not solely predictable by hemagglutinin-inhibition assays.
- Even antigens undetectable by hemagglutinin-inhibition (like colonic CRA) can contribute to immune priming.
- These findings may explain the variable responses of mice to CA administration and infection.
