Open AccessNatural and acquired resistance to Leishmania : cellular activation by Leishmania aethiopica of mononuclear cells from unexposed individuals is through the stimulation of natural killer (NK) cells
Author(s) -
AKUFFO H.,
MAASHO K.,
HOWE R.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
clinical & experimental immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 135
eISSN - 1365-2249
pISSN - 0009-9104
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2249.1993.tb08227.x
Subject(s) - immunology , biology , interleukin 12 , leishmania , leishmania major , interleukin 21 , cd8 , stimulation , peripheral blood mononuclear cell , interferon gamma , natural killer t cell , cytotoxic t cell , cytokine , antigen , in vitro , parasite hosting , endocrinology , biochemistry , world wide web , computer science
SUMMARY Cells from normal non‐Leishmania‐exposed individuals could respond in vitro by proliferation and interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) production to Leishmania aethiopica stimulation. The main cell type that appeared to be activated following such stimulation was CD3 − , CD16 + /56 + . i.e. NK cells. Of the few CD3 + cells responding, an involvement of CD8 + cells was evident in the absence of activation of CD4 + cells in normal individuals, while a different feature was observed when patients' cells were investigated. Cells from patients with L. aethiopica infection did not show this NK response, but rather the CD4 + cells were the prominent responding cells. No evidence of the involvement of superantigens or cells utilizing the γδ T cell receptor (γδcells) in the response of unexposed individuals was noted.