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Immunoglobulin-Containing Cells in Lungs of Hamsters Infected with Mycoplasma Pneumoniae¹

From the Department of Pediatrics and Microbiology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514 and the Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Abstract

Immunoglobulin production in lungs of hamsters experimentally infected with M. pneumoniae was studied with the indirect immunofluorescent technique. Only IgA was detected in normal controls as single plasmacytoid cells in the bronchial lamina propria. Varying numbers of cells infiltrating the peribronchial spaces during the infection were fluorescence-positive for IgM, IgA, 7S¹, and 7S² globulins. IgM appeared early and was followed by 7S globulin production during the period of maximum pneumonia at 2 weeks. IgA-cells increased, but were the least affected, during the infectious process indicating that in this model of local immunization a unique local immunoglobulin response occurs. Non-immunoglobulin stainable lymphocytes increased in number during the period of infection, tending to surround small blood vessels. Upon reinfection of previously infected, immune animals, a perivascular-peribronchial lymphoid reaction was observed on the 3rd day. Very few of these cells were fluorescence-positive. The histology of these recall lesions suggested that delayed hypersensitivity is a major component of acquired immunity to M. pneumoniae.

Footnotes

¹ This work was conducted under sponsorship of the Commission on Acute Respiratory Disease, Armed Forces Epidemiological Board, and was supported by the United States Army Medical Research and Development Command (Contract DA-49-193-MD-2189) and by the Medical Research Council of Canada.

² Recipient of Research Career Development Award 1-K04-AI-42544-01, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

³ Recipient of Research Career Development Award 1-K03-AI-9676-08, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

⁴ Medical Research Council of Canada Scholar.