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Role of T Helper/Inducer Cells as well as Natural Killer Cells in Resistance to Trypanosoma cruzi Infection
Author(s) -
ROTTENBERG M.,
CARDONI R. L.,
ANDERSSON R.,
SEGURA E. L.,
ÖRN A.
Publication year - 1988
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.1365-3083.1988.tb01489.x
Subject(s) - trypanosoma cruzi , biology , monoclonal antibody , antibody , polyclonal antibodies , cytotoxic t cell , interleukin 21 , t helper cell , immunology , t cell , interleukin 12 , virology , immune system , in vitro , parasite hosting , biochemistry , world wide web , computer science
T lymphocytes provide a major line of defence against many protozoan parasites. The aim of this work was to determine the role of T‐cell helper/inducer subset (T h/i) in the resistance to Trypanosoma cruzi in a murine model. The imponatance of natural killer (NK) cells in the resistance to the parasite was also evaluated. BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice were injected with either monoclonal antibodies against L3T4, Thy 1.2, NK1.1, or with a polyclonal rabbit antiserum against NK cells (anti‐asialo GM‐1). The effect of in vivo administration of these antibodies was tested in separate functional assays. Alter antibody treatment, mice were infected with a low dose of T. cruzi in the bloodstream form. Mice depleted of, or reduced in T, T h/i, or NK cell activity all developed higher parasitaemia and had higher mortality than their control counterparts. Mice injected with anti‐L3T4 monoclonal antibodies were unable to generate a specific antibody response to the parasite. Treatment of mice with alpha/beta interferon, which is known to boost NK cell activity, resulted in an enhanced resistance to the parasite. Our data indicate that T h/i cells as well as NK cells are of vital importance in controlling parasitaemia and reducing mortality in T. crazi ‐infected mice. Finally, We also demonstrate that the production of antibodies specific for T. cruzi is strictly T helper cell dependent.