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Experimental Histoplasmosis in the Beige Mouse
Author(s) -
Patiño Maria Mercedes,
Williams Dwight,
Ahrens Joan,
Graybill John R.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
journal of leukocyte biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.819
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1938-3673
pISSN - 0741-5400
DOI - 10.1002/jlb.41.3.228
Subject(s) - histoplasmosis , biology , macrophage , immunology , histoplasma , cytotoxic t cell , microbiology and biotechnology , ratón , in vitro , cellular immunity , immune system , histoplasma capsulatum , biochemistry
Mice carrying the beige mutation ( bg/bg ) on a C57BI/6 background were challenged with Histoplasma capsulatum. bg/bg mice had higher mortality and higher lung tissue fungal counts in their lungs than either bg/ + or C57BI/6 mice challenged with equal inocula. Immunologic studies showed that bg/bg mice developed normal delayed‐type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions to histoplasmin, but had deficient NK cell cytotoxic activity against YAC‐1 target cells. Studies of macrophage killing of H. capsulatum in vitro showed that T lymphocytes of either bg/ + or bg/bg mice were able to activate fungal killing by bg/ + but not by bg/bg macrophages. These studies, while not excluding a role for the NK cell, suggest that macrophage dysfunction may be critical in the greater susceptibility of the bglbg mouse and, by extension, that macrophage function is of major importance in host defense against H. capsulatum.