Induced sensitization to nickel in guinea pigs immunized with mycobacteria by injection of purified protein derivative with nickel

Nickel has been reported to be one of the most common causes of allergic contact dermatitis. Despite the fact that nickel is a frequent sensitizer in humans, establishing animal models for nickel allergy has met with considerable difficulties. In clinical cases, allergic contact hypersensitivity to nickel develops much more readily in inflamed skin than normal skin. In this study, we tried to induce nickel sensitization when inflammation has been evoked in guinea pigs immunized with mycobacteria followed by co-administration of a mycobacterial component with nickel. We first examined the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction of mycobacterial components such as the cell wall, cell membrane, 70S ribosomal fraction, cytoplasm, tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD), RNA and DNA from Mycobacterium bovis BCG in guinea pigs immunized with live M. bovis BCG or heat killed M. tuberculosis. When PPD was used, the hypersensitivity reaction was strongest. Next, we tested whether PPD with nickel could induce nickel sensitivity in guinea pigs immunized with mycobacteria. Strong sensitization to nickel was achieved by injecting PPD with nickel. However, if too large an amount of PPD or nickel salts was used, sensitization to nickel decreased. In this way, sensitization of nickel developed much more easily in guinea pigs immunized with mycobacteria by injection of an appropriate amount of nickel at the inflammation site induced by a suitable amount of PPD.     

The formation of delayed hypersensitivity to mycobacterial antigens

In experiments on guinea pigs and BALB/c mice delayed hypersensitivity to mycobacterial antigens was induced by the sensitization of the animals with live BCG or killed Mycobacterium bovis or M. avium in incomplete Freund's adjuvant. In the study of the dynamics of the development of skin reactivity to tuberculin some advantages of the sensitization of guinea pigs with live mycobacteria were revealed, while after the revaccination of the animals no development of secondary cell-mediated immune response was observed. The immunization of guinea pigs with atypical mycobacteria prior to their sensitization with BCG was found to lead to the development of higher skin reactivity to allergen prepared from atypical mycobacteria than skin reactivity to tuberculin.     

Cell-mediated immunity following experimental vaccinations with Candida albicans ribosomes

The aim of the present study was to ascertain whether cell-mediated immunity (CMI) is induced in animals by vaccination with Candida albicans ribosomes. Delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) was detected in vivo in ribosome-vaccinated mice and guinea pigs by the footpad swelling and skin tests, respectively. The observed DTH was similar to that induced by live C. albicans organisms. A lymphocyte transformation assay was used for in vitro detection of CMI. The tritiated thymidine incorporation assays revealed that spleen lymphocytes from mice immunized with C. albicans ribosomes were stimulated by the ribosomal antigen. The findings establish that C. albicans ribosomes are able to induce CMI in experimental animals.     

Tuberculin Activity of Mycobacterial Fractions Obtained by Chromatography

Commercial purified protein derivatives (PPD), old tuberculin (OT), the bacillary extract, and the culture filtrate of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra were submitted to Sephadex G-25 and diethylaminoethyl (DEAE)-cellulose chromatography. The ability of the fractions obtained to elicit delayed dermal hypersensitivity in M. tuberculosis H37Ra-infected guinea pigs was studied. Skin tests with Sephadex fractions in M. tuberculosis H37Ra-infected guinea pigs showed that the tuberculin activity was localized in the first fraction. All other Sephadex fractions were nonessential and nonspecifically irritating. Fractions from chromatography of Sephadex G-25 fraction 1 on DEAE-cellulose columns showed that all but the first were able to elicit delayed hypersensitivity reactions. There was a variability in the capacity to elicit the tuberculin reaction according to the fraction injected and the stage of tuberculous infection in guinea pigs. Compared to the others, the seven lots of commercial PPD were variable in composition and content. They contained both essential and nonessential materials for the tuberculin reaction. Sephadex fraction 1 would appear to be a better tuberculin as it excludes nonessential nonspecifically irritating elements and contains the complement able to elicit the tuberculin reaction. Its methodological simplicity would be economically advantageous.     

Effects of pretreatment of mice with BCG cell walls in saline on subsequent vaccination with BCG oil droplet vaccine

Multiple intravenous injections of bacillus Calmette-Guérin cell walls (BCG CW) suspended in Tween-saline into mice produced an unresponsive state to a subsequent vaccination with BCG-CW-oil droplet mixture. This was manifest by loss of delayed hypersensitivity to PPD as measured by footpad swelling, a diminished granulomatous response in pulmonary tissue, and almost complete abrogation of protection to an aerosol challenge with virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis, strain H37Rv. The unresponsive state disappeared 20 days after stopping pretreatment. There was evidence of immunity early after H37Rv challenge, but by 4 wk it had markedly diminished and by 6 wk there was no difference between nonvaccinated animals and the pretreated vaccinated animals. Unresponsiveness was specific since pretreated mice were capable of developing delayed type reaction to immunization with modified sheep red blood cells in the usual manner. Relationships among delayed hypersensitivity, granulomatous inflammation, and protection against aerosol infection with virulent M. tuberculosis are discussed in the light of these findings.     

Response of Hypersensitive Mice to the Footpad Injection of Living Homologous or Heterologous Mycobacteria: Preliminary Report

Mice sensitized by the injection of viable mycobacteria into one of the hind footpads responded to a second injection of mycobacteria (3 to 4 weeks later), introduced into the contralateral foot, with a degree of footpad swelling that was both accelerated and exaggerated beyond that observed after the first inoculation. The degree of specificity of this reaction (i.e., response to homologous versus heterologous mycobacteria) was comparable to that previously reported for dermal reactions of hypersensitive guinea pigs to tuberculin or tuberculin-like antigens from mycobacteria. In preliminary studies it was impossible to achieve this state of specific sensitization by vaccinating mice subcutaneously with water-in-oil emulsions of heat-killed mycobacteria; reasons for the failure are discussed. It is suggested that this tool could prove useful in both taxonomic and immunological investigations. Advantages and disadvantages of the mouse footpad test in relation to the dermal skin test in guinea pigs are discussed.     

Distinctive adjuvanticity of synthetic analogs of mycobacterial water-soluble components.

Synthetic N-acetyl-muramyl-l-alanyl-d-isoglutamine represents the minimal structure capable of duplicating the activity of mycobacteria in Freund's complete adjuvant. In contrast to mycobacterial adjuvant preparations, that function only in the form of water-in-oil emulsions, this compound and a second synthetic analog (N-acetyl-muramyl-l-alanyl-d-isoglutamic acid) augment the humoral immune responses of mice equally as well as aqueous solutions. Whereas N-acetyl-muramyl-l-alanyl-d-isoglutamic acid administered to guinea pigs in water-in-oil emulsion has no effect, N-acetyl-muramyl-l-alanyl-d-isoglutamine induces delayed hypersensitivity to ovalbumin and azobenezene-arsonate N-acetyl-l-tyrosine and increases the level of antibody against ovalbumin. Under these conditions, challenge with the synthetic adjuvants themselves evokes no skin responses. Moreover, Freund's complete adjuvant sensitizes guinea pigs to tuberculin and to native mycobacterial water-soluble adjuvant but not to the synthetic analogs.     

Preparation and Effect of Different Adjuvants on the Immunogenic Activity of Mycobacterial Ribosomal Fraction

Several emulsified and two nonemulsified incomplete adjuvants were examined for their adjuvant activity by use of mycobacterial ribosomal fractions as a substrate. A good adjuvant is defined as one which produces a high immunological response with the ribosomal fraction in mice to infection with virulent tubercle bacilli. Freund's incomplete adjuvant, consisting of Aquaphor and heavy mineral oil, and Arlacel A plus hexadecane were the best adjuvants tested. Aquaphor plus light mineral oil and Arlacel A plus 7-n-hexyloctadecane were not quite as effective. Peanut oil was not satisfactory when emulsified with either Aquaphor or Arlacel A. A moderate degree of immunity was produced in mice vaccinated with ribosomal fraction mixed with aluminum hydroxide gel. Sodium alginate mixed with ribosomal fraction produced a low degree of immunity only with the highest vaccinating dose. It was found that the effectiveness of the emulsified type of adjuvant depended upon the method of preparation. Careful standardization of technique to produce uniform and complete emulsification was essential for maximal adjuvant activity using minimal vaccinating doses. A rapid and practical method of preparing emulsified adjuvants is given. The mode of action of incomplete adjuvants as employed in these experiments is discussed, and it is thought that they acted primarily by protecting the ribosomes from being inactivated by host ribonuclease before they were engulfed by the macrophages.     

Passive transfer of cell-mediated immunity in xenogeneic animals

Cell-mediated immunity (delayed hypersensitivity) to 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB) was passively transferred from sensitized guinea pigs to mice. Transfer was accomplished by subcutaneous injection of peritoneal exudate cells of sensitized guinea pigs.     

Further study of the problem of specific cellular receptors in delayed hypersensitivity]

The work presents the materials obtained as a result of the further study of specific T lymphocyte receptors with the use of so-called receptor antisera, i. e. antisera against the lymphoid cells of mice sensitized with one of the two antigens (Macobacterium tuberculosis or bovine gamma globulin); thus these differed from control antisera against the lymphoid cells of intact mice. These mouse antisera reacted with the lymphoid cells of guinea pigs in experiments of delayed-type hypersensitivity transfer. The cells of sensitized guinea pigs lost their ability to transfer hypersensitivity if, prior to their injection into the recipient guinea pigs, these cells were treated with the above-mentioned mouse antisera, i. e. antisera against the lymphoid cells of mice had a blocking effect on the lymphoid cells of guinea pigs. The blocking action of the antisera proved to be specific: antisera against the lymphoid cells of mice sensitized to bovine gamma gloublin blocked the cells of guinea pigs, also sensitized to bovine gamma globulins, but did not block the cells sensitized to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The control antisera, taken in the same doses as the factor antisera, did not show a blocking effect on the specific activity of lymphoid cells.     

Role of mediators of cellular hypersensitivity in the stimulation of the antibody formation to unrelated antigen

The effect of a concurrent delayed hypersensitivity reaction on the antibody response to sheep red cells was assessed by a plaque assay. Guinea pigs with delayed hypersensitivity to tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD) or egg albumin showed an increased antibody response to sheep red cells when the cells were injected intravenously at the same time as PPD or egg albumin. This effect was transferred to normal guinea pigs by serum from guinea pigs with delayed hypersensitivity to PPD or egg albumin taken 24 hr after injecting the corresponding antigen. Supernatants containing migratory inhibitory factor were prepared by incubating lymphocytes from sensitized rabbits with antigen. These supernatants were injected with sheep red cells and gave rise to an enhanced plaque response. Similar results were obtained with supernatants from normal rabbit thymus cells. The role of mediators of delayed hypersensitivity in enhancing antibody formation and in T cell/B cell cooperation is discussed.     

Comparison of bcg strains for delayed hypersensitivity induction tested in vivo in guinea pigs and in vitro

Previous studies performed on guinea pigs demonstrated a direct dependence of tuberculin reaction size (in vivo hypersensitivity) on immunogenicity in a number of BCG strains. The present work used an in vitro method, MIF detection, for assessing hypersensitivity and compared the results obtained with tuberculin hypersensitivity tests, correlating the data with the immunogenicity of the individual BCG strains employed. The following strains were used: the Czechoslovak BCG strain No. 725, Japanese BCG strain Tokyo, Danish BCG strain Copenhagen and Soviet BCG strain Moscow. The results obtained by the two hypersensitivity testing methods, in vivo and in vitro were in a direct correlation; a direct relationship was also demonstrated between hypersensitivity tested by the in vitro method and immunogenicity. The in vitro method of MIF detection is reproducible and comparable with the other two methods employed and may be used as an alternative approach to BCG vaccine efficacy testing. It might probably also be applicable to estimation of the status of cell-mediated immunity against intracellularly parasitizing bacteria in general.     

Immunogenicity of B-antigen in experimental plague and pseudotuberculosis

The results of the evaluation of the immunogenic properties of B-antigen, earlier identified in the culture fluid of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis submerged culture, with respect to experimental plague and pseudotuberculosis are presented. B-antigen has been shown to produce protective effect in guinea pigs and, probably, hamadryas baboons, but not in white mice infected with the causative agent of plague. Immunizaton with B-antigen protects guinea pigs from primary pneumonic plague caused by both capsule-forming and noncapsular Y. pestis virulent strains. Passive immunization with antibodies to B-antigen induces limitedly pronounced protective effect in guinea pigs and is not effective for white mice with respect to experimental plague. No active or passive protection of white mice or guinea pigs, infected with Y. pseudotuberculosis cultures, has been achieved by the injection of B-antigen or antibodies to it.     

Effects of recombinant cholera toxin b subunit (rCTB) on cellular immune responses: enhancement of delayed-type hypersensitivity following intranasal co-administration of Mycobacterium bovis-BCG with rCTB

Recombinant cholera toxin B subunit (rCTB) is a safe and potent mucosal adjuvant. To gain insight into the mechanism underlying the adjuvant effect of rCTB, the effects of rCTB on cell-mediated immune responses of mice and guinea pigs were examined after intranasal administration of Mycobacterium bovis -bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) with and without rCTB. Delayed-type hypersensitivity, for skin reactions in guinea pigs and for footpad swelling reactions in mice, to purified protein derivative (PPD) were enhanced by intranasal co-administration of BCG and rCTB, as compared to giving BCG alone to these animals. Moreover, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interferon (IFN)-gamma production of spleen cells and antigen specific spleen cell proliferation, stimulated with PPD, were enhanced in the presence of rCTB. These results strongly suggest that rCTB enhances cellular as well as humoral immune responses.     

Efficacy of commercial vaccines for protecting guinea pigs against Bordetella bronchiseptica pneumonia

Autogenous bacterins are recommended to protect guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) against pneumonia due to Bordetella bronchiseptica. Bordetella vaccines are available commercially for several other animal species. The substantial antigenic cross-reactivity among Bordetella isolates from various animal species suggests that immunity resulting from use of these vaccines might protect guinea pigs. Groups of ten individually housed Hartley guinea pigs from a colony free of Bordetella were vaccinated with one of two commercial porcine B. bronchiseptica vaccines, a human DPT vaccine (which includes a Bordetella pertussis component), or an autogenous B. bronchiseptica bacterin. Twenty-one days following vaccination, the animals were challenged with an intranasal dose of 10(6) virulent B. bronchiseptica cells. The animals were euthanized and necropsied 15 days after challenge. The nares, nasopharynx, distal trachea and lungs were cultured. All nonvaccinated control animals developed acute signs of pneumonia, while none of the vaccinated animals developed clinical signs of disease or gross lesions. The frequency of B. bronchiseptica isolation from the lungs of animals in each vaccine group was reduced. However, approximately 70% of all animals in each vaccine group harbored B. bronchiseptica in the trachea, and almost all harbored B bronchiseptica in the nares and nasopharynx. The porcine vaccines appeared to afford protection against acute pulmonary disease in the guinea pig.     

Hymenolepis nana: adoptive transfer of protective immunity and delayed type hypersensitivity response with mesenteric lymph node cells in mice

A marked degree of footpad swelling was observed in BALB/c mice infected with Hymenolepis nana eggs, when soluble egg antigen was injected into their footpads 4 to 21 days after the egg infection, indicating delayed type hypersensitivity responses in infected mice. Adoptive transfer with mesenteric lymph node cells from donor mice (BALB/c strain; +/+) infected with eggs 4 days before cell collection could confer this hypersensitivity to recipient nude mice (BALB/c strain; nu/nu). These mesenteric lymph node cells were then divided into two fractions, blast-enriched and blast-depleted cells, by density gradient centrifugation with Percoll. The recipients intravenously injected with the blast-depleted cell fraction showed a marked increase in footpad thickness, whereas the intravenous transfer of the blast-enriched cell fraction resulted in an insignificant increase in footpad thickness. The transfer of the blast-enriched cell fraction, but not of the blast-depleted cell fraction, conferred a strong adoptive immunity on syngeneic recipient nude mice, when the immunity transferred was assessed by examining cysticercoids developed in the intestinal villi on Day 4 of challenge infection. The lack of delayed type hypersensitivity response in mice that received the blast-enriched cell population was not due to a lack of the capacity of the cells to induce the response, because the cells were capable of inducing a significant increase in thickness of footpads of normal mice when these cells were locally injected into the footpad together with soluble egg antigen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Staphylococcal footpad infection in mice.

Local footpad infection in mouse was investigated with 55 clinically isolated strains of Staphylococcus aureus. When 10(7) viable cells were inoculated into the footpad, local swelling and bacterial growth resulted after 24 hr. With a dose of 10(6) cells, moderate swelling was observed after a few hours but the reaction had almost disappeared after 24 hr. About 75% of the staphylococcal strains tested caused footpad edema in mice at doses of 10(7) cells. A statistical comparison of the virulence of the organisms on intravenous and intraperitoneal injection with that in inducing footpad swelling is also reported.     

Delayed hypersensitivity and nonspecific cellular immunity. The role of mono- and polynuclear phagocytes

Differences in the influence produced by sensitization with BCG vaccine and Staphylococcus aureus and by the reaction of delayed hypersensitivity (DH) induced, respectively, by the injection of old tuberculin and staphylococcal phagolysate on the phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages and blood leukocytes in different animals were experimentally demonstrated. A considerable activation of the bactericidal and ingesting functions of macrophages was observed in animals showing a pronounced DH reaction (rabbits, guinea pigs and mice), while in Wistar rats no such activation was noted. The latter showed no DH reaction after sensitization with BCG vaccine and the injection of the specific antigen. Among different strains of mice, the activation of macrophages occurred in the animals with the most pronounced DH reaction. Sensitization with BCG vaccine led to an insignificant sensitization of macrophages, and sensitization with S. aureus even suppressed the phagocytic activity of macrophages. The treatment of mice with antimacrophagal preparations (carrageenan, silica and trypan blue, but T-lymphocyte antiserum) before and after the injection of the specific antigen into the sensitized animals abolished the stimulation of anti-infection immunity.     

Features of the formation of antibodies to heterologous antigens in experimental Shigella infection in guinea pigs and mice

Experimental shigellous infection in guinea pigs and mice is accompanied by the phenomena of immunomodulation. Production of antibodies is stimulated with the primary and secondary immune response to ram erythrocytes or to Ni-antigen of typhoid bacteria. Simultaneously the suppression of the secondary immune response is observed. The immune-stimulating effect is demonstrated better on the models of shigellous keratoconjunctivitis and cystitis in guinea pigs and shigellous pneumonia in mice. Immunosuppression of the secondary response is displayed better with intraperitoneal infection of mice. The immunosuppressive action of virulent shigellas does not depend on the suppressive factor of the spleen.