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. 1990 Jan;58(1):228–236. doi: 10.1128/iai.58.1.228-236.1990

Immunosuppressive properties of the Mycoplasma arthritidis T-cell mitogen in vivo: inhibition of proliferative responses to T-cell mitogens.

B C Cole 1, D J Wells 1
PMCID: PMC258434  PMID: 1967168

Abstract

We have previously shown that Mycoplasma arthritidis produces a soluble T-cell mitogen (MAM) which is active for most mouse strains that express the alpha chain of the I-E molecule (E alpha) encoded within the murine major histocompatibility complex. The lymphocytes from mice injected intravenously with the MAM exhibited a marked decrease in their ability to respond in vitro to MAM, to phytohemagglutinin, or to concanavalin A T-cell mitogens. Suppression could only be induced in MAM-responsive mouse strains and was most marked 1 to 4 days postinjection. Splenic and node cells and, to a lesser extent, thymic cells from MAM-injected mice could inhibit the ability of lymphocytes from normal mice to respond to MAM and lectin mitogens. A minimum of 2.5 x 10(4) viable cells was required for significant transfer of suppression, and no major histocompatibility complex restrictions were seen. Unlike concanavalin A-induced suppressor cells, which consist of a CD4-, CD8+ T-cell subset, suppressor cells induced by MAM were due to a CD4+ CD8- subset. We hypothesize that MAM may play a role in M. arthritidis-mediated disease by both its inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties.

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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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