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Immunosuppression associated with visceral leishmaniasis of hamsters
Author(s) -
NICKOL A. D.,
BONVENTRE P. F.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
parasite immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.795
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1365-3024
pISSN - 0141-9838
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3024.1985.tb00089.x
Subject(s) - immunology , immunosuppression , antigen , biology , immune system , population , leishmania donovani , leishmania , lymphocyte , spleen , concanavalin a , visceral leishmaniasis , leishmaniasis , parasite hosting , medicine , biochemistry , environmental health , world wide web , computer science , in vitro
Summary Immunosuppression was demonstrated during the course of Leishmania donovani infection of outbred and inbred hamsters. Proliferative responses of splenic lymphocytes to the mitogen concanavalin A (Con A) and to promastigote antigens were used as indicators of immune responsiveness. Although splenic lymphocyte proliferative responses to parasite antigens were demonstrable 3 weeks after challenge, antigen specific lymphocyte responses diminished as the infection progressed. Two types of immunosuppression were demonstrable. The first was a non‐specific anergy of splenic lymphocytes to Con A stimulation. Thus, spleen cells from infected animals did not actively suppress the Con A responses of normal lymphocytes in mixed cultures. A second immunosuppression mechanism, specific for leishmania antigens was mediated by a nylon wool non‐adherent cell population. The suppressor, tentatively identified as a T cell population, inhibited the proliferation of parasite antigen sensitized responder lymphocytes in mixed culture. Elimination of the parasite burden by glucantime therapy restored responsiveness of lymphocytes to parasite antigens. Con A responses, however, remained suppressed 1 week after drug cure.