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

• Published in: The Journal of immunology (1950) Vol. 117; no. 5 Part 1; pp. 1638 - 1643
• Main Authors: Doft, Bernard H, Merchant, Bruce, Johannessen, Lynne, Chaparas, Sotiros D, Sher, Neal A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Am Assoc Immnol 01.11.1976
• Subjects: Animals; Antibody Formation; Antibody-Producing Cells - immunology; BCG Vaccine - pharmacology; Dinitrobenzenes - immunology; Erythrocytes - immunology; Female; Hemocyanins - immunology; Lymph Nodes - immunology; Mice; Mice, Nude - immunology; Organ Specificity; Spleen - immunology; T-Lymphocytes - immunology
• ISSN: 0022-1767; 1550-6606
• DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.117.5_Part_1.1638

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.