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. 1974 Nov;27(5):825–840.

The nature of immunosuppression in Trypanosoma brucei infections in mice

II. The role of the T and B lymphocytes

P K Murray, F W Jennings, M Murray, G M Urquhart
PMCID: PMC1445670  PMID: 4548043

Abstract

In an investigation of the immunosuppression associated with trypanosomiasis, the thymus-derived lymphocytes (T cells) and the thymus-independent lymphocytes (B cells) in mice with subacute Trypanosoma brucei infections were studied. It was shown that: (a) there was a massive plasma cell response in lymph nodes and spleen which replaced the thymus-dependent areas; (b) a failure of antibody production at the cellular level occurred as shown by the absence of IgM PFC responses to SRBC and lipopolysaccharide; (c) T cells appeared relatively normal as judged by their ability to proliferate following a primary stimulus with oxazolone unless measured during the terminal stages of the disease; (d) immune competence was rapidly restored after treatment with a trypanocidal drug.

It appeared that immunosuppression was closely associated with the presence of living trypanosomes, possibly mediated through a B-cell defect. The mechanism whereby this might occur is discussed.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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