Immune depression in trypanosome-infected mice. II. Characterization of the spleen cell types involved

Rat pregnancy induces two suppressor cell activities

Pregnancy in rat is able to stimulate two suppressor cell activities. One is specific to the paternal histocompatibility antigens and it resides in the T-lymphocyte population. The second is nonspecific and is of non-T nature. The use of various methods for pseudopregnancy and deciduoma installation has allowed the demonstration of two inducing circuits: (a) the presence of fertilized ova in the female genital tract and (b) the progestation hormonal status.

Histopathological and immunocytochemical studies of Trypanosoma musculi infection of mice

Mice infected with Trypanosoma musculi developed hyperplasia of the spleen, lymph nodes, and liver; in contrast, their thymuses displayed transient involution. All organs returned to normal in a month or less. There was modest anemia, lasting until the parasites were cleared from the bloodstream, followed by a rapid influx of erythrocytes into the blood and a subsequent return to normal erythrocyte numbers. During the first 2 weeks, trypanosomes and trypanosome-derived substances were found in the livers and, in moderate amounts, in the red pulp of the spleens; thereafter, trypanosomes and trypanosome-derived substances gradually decreased in these organs. The lymphoreticular hyperplasia involved a large increase of immunoglobulin G (IgG)-containing cells in the spleens and lymph nodes at 2 weeks of infection. Hyperplasia of immunoglobulin-producing cells correlated with elevation of serum immunoglobulins, especially IgG. Cells producing IgG in the spleens proliferated mainly around the central arterioles of the white pulp, i.e., in the T-cell-dependent areas. The decline of trypanosome-derived substances in the livers and spleens was associated with marked hyperplasia of IgG-containing cells in the spleens and lymph nodes. These results suggest that trypanosome-mediated depression of murine immune responses is attributable to proliferation and terminal differentiation of more-mature lymphoid cells and temporary inhibition of normal maturation of less-mature precursor cells.

Immunodepression in trypanosome-infected mice. VI. Comparison of immune responses of different lymphoid organs

Mitogen stimulation of cells from various lymphoid organs of C3H/He mice chronically infected with an isolate of Trypanosoma congolense was studied at different time intervals after infection, using concanavalin A (Con A) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). At the same time, changes in the percentages of T, B and null lymphocytes in these organs were determined by immunofluorescence staining. The responses of T and B lymphocytes in the spleen were totally depressed, and the cellular composition was drastically altered by day 14 after infection. Unlike the spleen, the lymph nodes showed minor changes in their T and B lymphocyte responses and cell composition during the course of the infection, except the B cell response and composition which were altered late in the infection. The thymus and bone marrow did not show any appreciable changes in their mitogen responses and cell composition throughout the infection. The peripheral blood lymphocytes showed reduced B cell responses. Spleen cells from chronically infected mice suppressed lymphocyte stimulation induced in normal spleen and lymph node cell populations by Con A, LPS and allogeneic stimulator cells. Lymph node cells from the same group of mice did not exhibit any such suppressor activity. In the experimental system used here, the spleen is the primary site of immune depression, and other lymphoid organs such as the lymph nodes and thymus are very little affected.

Immune depression in trypanosome-infected mice. III. suppressor cells

Spleen cells from trypanosome-infected mice strongly suppressed lymphocyte stimulation induced in normal spleen cell populations by lipopolysaccharide, concanavalin A or allogeneic (H-2-different) stimulator cells. This suppression was not H-2-restricted, as responses of spleen lymphocytes both allogeneic and syngeneic to the suppressors were inhibited. Irradiation or mitomycin C treatment of suppressor populations markedly reduced but did not eliminate suppressor activity. Suppressor populations were effective when present in very low numbers. Addition of suppressor cells to mixed lymphocyte cultures at various intervals after initiation of the cultures showed that the suppressors require 48 h to manifest their activity. Cell depletion or enrichment experiments indicate that the mechanism of suppression is complex and involves more than one cell type.