Cellular Reactivity Studies to Streptococcal Antigens MIGRATION INHIBITION STUDIES IN PATIENTS WITH STREPTOCOCCAL INFECTIONS AND REHEUMATIC FEVER
Open Access
- 1 August 1974
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Society for Clinical Investigation in JCI Insight
- Vol. 54 (2), 439-450
- https://doi.org/10.1172/jci107780
Abstract
The question of whether hypersensitivity to streptococcal antigens plays a role in the pathogenesis of the nonsuppurative sequelae of streptococcal infections remains at present unclear. As a first step in the approach to this question, the degree of cellular reactivity of peripheral blood leucocytes to streptococcal antigens was investigated in a number of rheumatic fever patients, patients with uncomplicated streptococcal infections, as well as normal healthy subjects. Using the in vitro technique for the inhibition of capillary migration of peripheral blood leucocytes as an index of the degree of sensitivity to streptococcal antigens, the results indicate that patients with acute rheumatic fever exhibit an exaggerated cellular reactivity to these antigens and in particular to streptococcal cell membrane antigens. This abnormal response to streptococcal membrane antigens appears to persist in rheumatic subjects for at least 5 yr after the initial attack of rheumatic fever. Only Group A streptococcal membrane antigens elicited this unusual response in rheumatic subjects, since the cellular reactivity to Group C and D streptococcal membranes was the same in all groups. Patients with evidence of valvular disease exhibited the same degree of cellular reactivity to these antigens as did patients without clinical evidence of rheumatic heart disease. The nature of the antigens responsible for the observed cellular response remains unknown. Enzymatic treatment of streptococcal cell walls and membranes designed to remove type-specific M proteins did not alter the observed cellular reactivity to the streptococcal antigens. The finding that an abnormal cellular response to certain streptococcal antigens is present only in rheumatic patients suggests that cell-mediated factors may play an important role in the disease process.Keywords
This publication has 22 references indexed in Scilit:
- PURIFICATION AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF GROUP C STREPTOCOCCAL PHAGE-ASSOCIATED LYSINThe Journal of Experimental Medicine, 1971
- The effect of salicylate on the metabolism of normal and stimulated human lymphocytes in vitroJCI Insight, 1971
- Cellular and Antibody Reactions to Streptococcal M Protein Types 1, 3, 6 and 12The Journal of Immunology, 1970
- Heart-reactive antibody associated with rheumatic fever: characterization and diagnostic significance.1970
- DISSOCIATION OF HEMOLYTIC AND LYMPHOCYTE-TRANSFORMING ACTIVITIES OF STREPTOLYSIN S PREPARATIONSThe Journal of Experimental Medicine, 1969
- Delayed Hypersensitivity to Purified Streptococcal M Protein in Guinea Pigs and in ManThe Journal of Immunology, 1969
- Isolation from Heart Valves of Glycopeptides which share Immunological Properties with Streptococcus haemolyticus Group A PolysaccharidesNature, 1968
- AN IMMUNOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE GROUP A STREPTOCOCCUS AND MAMMALIAN MUSCLEThe Journal of Experimental Medicine, 1966
- THE INCIDENCE AND PATHOGENESIS OF MYOCARDITIS IN RABBITS AFTER GROUP A STREPTOCOCCAL PHARYNGEAL INFECTIONSThe Journal of Experimental Medicine, 1956
- Haemolytic Streptococcal Infections and Acute RheumatismAnnals Of The Rheumatic Diseases, 1942