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Contrasting Effects of BCG on Spleen and Lymph Node Antibody Responses in Nude and Normal Mice¹

From the Division of Blood and Blood Products and the Division of Bacterial Products, Bureau of Biologics, Food and Drug Administration, Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Bethesda, Maryland 20014

Abstract

Subcutaneous footpad injection of BCG causes a marked augmentation of popliteal lymph node plaque-forming cell (PFC) responses to DNP-derivatized hemocyanin and to sheep red blood cells, both T-dependent antigens, but not to DNP-derivatized Ficoll, a T-independent antigen. This augmentative effect occurs in normal thymus-bearing heterozygous (nu/+) mice, but not in congenitally athymic nude mice (nu/nu). In contrast, intravenous injection of BCG causes a suppressed splenic PFC response to subsequently administered T-dependent or T-independent antigens in both nude and nu/+ mice. BCG's augmenting effect on the lymph node appears to be mediated by a T-helper cell. BCG's suppressive effect in the spleen is not attributable to T cells. The actual mechanism of the BCG-mediated suppressive splenic effect remains incompletely defined at present.

Footnotes

¹ Address reprint requests to: Immunohematology Branch, DBBP, Bureau of Biologics, 8800 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland 20014.