Immune abnormalities in guinea pigs with asymptomatic congenital syphilis.

Pediatr Res

Wadsworth Center for Laboratories and Research, New York State Department of Health Albany, 12201-0509, USA.

Published: December 1997

Spleens from 1-20-wk-old guinea pigs infected in utero with Treponema pallidum and age-matched controls, born to normal and heat-killed (56 degrees C, 2 h.) T. pallidum-injected mothers, were examined for their in vitro lymphoproliferative response to phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A, and lipopolysaccharide. Additionally, T cell surface markers (mu-chain, pan T, CD4, and CD8) were determined in spleen, lymph node, and peripheral blood from 10-wk infected and normal pups by single and dual parameter fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis. Compared with control animals, congenitally infected animals showed a remarkable prolonged naive-type of immune response as reflected by the higher (p < 0.01) proliferative responses to both T cell mitogens (up to 20 wk of age), and the weaker response to the B cell mitogen, significantly different (p < 0.01) at 10 wk of age. As opposed to controls, in all organs examined the level of CD8+ (cytotoxic/suppressor) T cells was significantly diminished (p < 0.01); consequently, the CD4/CD8 ratio was significantly elevated (p < 0.05). The role of C4 complement component and the nature and potential role of the immature T and B lymphocyte responses in asymptomatic congenital syphilis is discussed.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199712000-00013DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

guinea pigs
8
asymptomatic congenital
8
congenital syphilis
8
immune abnormalities
4
abnormalities guinea
4
pigs asymptomatic
4
syphilis spleens
4
spleens 1-20-wk-old
4
1-20-wk-old guinea
4
pigs infected
4

Similar Publications

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!