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Activation of Human Lymphocyte Subpopulations by Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Author(s) -
BIBERFELD G.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.934
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1365-3083
pISSN - 0300-9475
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3083.1977.tb00353.x
Subject(s) - adenoid , antigen , tonsil , mycoplasma , biology , mycoplasma pneumoniae , antibody , lymphocyte , immunology , stimulation , in vitro , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , endocrinology , pneumonia , biochemistry
B‐ and T‐cell‐enriched preparations of lymphocytes from human blood (5 cases), adenoids (10 cases), and tonsils (4 cases) were examined for the in vitro stimulation response to Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP). B lymphocytes did not respond to MP by DNA synthesis except for the B cells from one adenoid. T lymphocytes and nonfractionated lymphocytes from blood, from three of the adenoids and two of the tonsils showed a stimulation response to MP. Nonfractionated adenoid lymphocytes from altogether 22 children were examined, and a stimulation response to MP was demonstrated in 8 cases. Lymphocyte cultures from 11 adenoids and 2 tonsils were examined for MP‐induced non‐antigen‐specific antibody production by a hemolytic plaque assay. In all these cultures MP activated production of antibody‐secreting cells to sheep erythrocytes. It is concluded that MP can induce non‐antigen‐specific antibody production in human B lymphocytes without stimulating DNA synthesis in these cells. The proliferative response of adenoid, tonsil, and blood lymphocytes to MP is interpreted as an antigen‐specific T‐cell response.