Previous studies documented that T-cell deficient nude mice failed to control M. leprae infection. In the present investigation we monitored the growth of M. leprae for up to 15 months in the SCID C.B.-17 mouse, a host deficient in both T and B lymphocytes. At 8 months post-infection 10(8) organisms/foot-pad were recovered from SCID mice vs 5 x 10(6) in normal BALB/c mice. Thereafter the number of bacilli decreased rapidly in mice infected with high-dose inoculum (10(7)); however, at all doses SCID mice eventually cleared M. leprae. During infection both T and B cells as well as serum Ig remained as low as in uninfected mice; however, in the spleen MAC-1+ cells which include macrophages and NK cells were substantially increased. These results suggest that MAC-1+ cells are involved in the anti-mycobacteria-1 defence mechanisms adopted by SCID mice to compensate their deficiency in T and B cells.
BT - Comptes rendus de l'Academie des sciences. Serie III, Sciences de la vie C1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1576539?dopt=Abstract DA - 1992 IS - 3 J2 - C. R. Acad. Sci. III, Sci. Vie LA - fre N2 -Previous studies documented that T-cell deficient nude mice failed to control M. leprae infection. In the present investigation we monitored the growth of M. leprae for up to 15 months in the SCID C.B.-17 mouse, a host deficient in both T and B lymphocytes. At 8 months post-infection 10(8) organisms/foot-pad were recovered from SCID mice vs 5 x 10(6) in normal BALB/c mice. Thereafter the number of bacilli decreased rapidly in mice infected with high-dose inoculum (10(7)); however, at all doses SCID mice eventually cleared M. leprae. During infection both T and B cells as well as serum Ig remained as low as in uninfected mice; however, in the spleen MAC-1+ cells which include macrophages and NK cells were substantially increased. These results suggest that MAC-1+ cells are involved in the anti-mycobacteria-1 defence mechanisms adopted by SCID mice to compensate their deficiency in T and B cells.
PY - 1992 SP - 99 EP - 103 T2 - Comptes rendus de l'Academie des sciences. Serie III, Sciences de la vie TI - [Infection and elimination of Mycobacterium leprae in SCID C.B.-17 mice (severe combined immunodeficiency)]. VL - 314 SN - 0764-4469 ER -