In vitrotapeworm extract-induced proliferative responses of gut-associated lymphoid cells fromHymenolepis diminutainfected mice
AbstractThe development of lymphoid cells reactive to tapeworm-associated antigens during the course ofHymenolepis diminutarejection from mice was studied using anin vitrotapeworm extract (TWE)-induced cell proliferation culture system. Mice infected with three cysticercoids on day 0 developed three adult worms by day 7 but worms were rejected by day 21 post-infection. Concomitant with worm rejection was the development of TWE-sensitized lymphoid cells which responded by proliferation when stimulatedin vitrowith TWE. Sensitized cells were detected in gut-associated mesenteric lymph nodes but were not detected in spleen, axillary lymph nodes, or peyer's patches of infected mice, or in lymphoid organs of non-infected mice. These studies suggest that rejection ofH. diminutafrom mice is associated with the activities of gut-associated, tapeworm antigen-sensitized immune cells localized in the mesenteric lymph nodes.