Mycobacterium tuberculosis aerogenic rechallenge infections in B cell-deficient mice

• Published in: Tubercle and lung disease Vol. 78; no. 5; pp. 257 - 261
• Main Authors: Johnson, C.M., Cooper, A.M., Frank, A.A., Bonorino, C.B.C., Wysoki, L.J., Orme, I.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Scotland Elsevier Ltd 1997
• Subjects: Aerosols; Animals; B-Lymphocytes - immunology; Female; Gene Expression; Immune Tolerance; Immunologic Memory; Interferon-gamma - biosynthesis; Interferon-gamma - genetics; Lung - immunology; Lung - microbiology; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; RNA, Messenger - genetics; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary - immunology; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary - microbiology
• ISSN: 0962-8479; 1532-219X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0962-8479(97)90006-X

Objective: Use gene disrupted mice to examine the possible role of secretory antibody on resistance to re-exposure to pulmonary tuberculosis.
Design: Mice deficient in B cells due to targeted gene disruption were infected by aerosol exposure with
Mycobacterium tuberculosis. A further set were identically exposed then given isoniazid to clear the infection and establish a state of memory immunity.
Results: Control of the aerosol infection and generation of gamma interferon proceeded in a similar manner in both naive and memory immune mice, regardless of B cell deficiency.
Conclusions: The absence of antibody responses did not affect the course of infection, thus confirming the classical literature that antibody plays no significant protective role.