Functional Role for Humoral Antibodies in Leishmaniasis in Laboratory Animals.
Abstract
Although acquired immunity to leishmaniasis is generally considered to be cell-mediated, humoral factors may be partially responsible. The present study showed that antisera from C57B1/6J mice superinfected with Leishmania donovani contained cytophilic antibody and opsonins for both the amastigote and promastigote stages of the parasite. When mouse hyperimmune serum was tested for cytophilic and opsonizing antibodies in an in vitro macrophage culture system, 1.5-4.0 times more parasites were bound to macrophages at 4 C, and subsequently phagocytized at 37 C, than their respective controls. The percentage of cells bearing or containing parasites, respectively, also was significantly greater than their respective controls. These differences were observed at 3, 6 and 9 days when sera from mice killed 10 or 11 days after superinfection were used. However, when sera from mice killed 24 days after superinfection were tested with amastigotes, at 9 days the number of parasites and the percentage of cells parasitized decreased to or significantly below control values. Thioglycollate-stimulated macrophages, treated with hyperimmune serum bound more amastigotes at 4 C than those treated with control serum; activated macrophaged demonstrated increased non-specific binding of amastigotes. Treatment of macrophages with trypsin reduced both cytophilic antibody-specific and non-specific binding of amastigotes. The specific in vitro effects of anti-leishmanial antibody from superinfected mice might indicate a possible role for humoral antibody in immunity to leishmaniasis in the mouse. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1980
- Accession Number
- ADA104046
Entities
People
- Robert Herman
Organizations
- Rutgers University–New Brunswick