The adjuvant effect of Corynebacterium parvum: T-cell dependence of macrophage activation.

Abstract

Splenic and peritoneal macrophages from mice treated with C. parvum enhanced the antibody response in vitro of normal nonadherent spleen cells to SRBC [sheep red blood cells] but not to DNP-POL [dinitrophenylated polymerized flagellin]. This enhancement was dependent on the dose and time of administration of C. parvum and could be abrogated by pretreatment with carrageenan. Macrophages from T[thymus-derived]-cell depleted mice failed to enhance the response, but this ability was restored if the mice were reconstituted with purified T lymphocytes. Macrophages that are activated by C. parvum are a resident nondividing population. Activated macrophages, capable of enhancing antibody responses to T-cell-dependent antigens, may arise through a cell-mediated reaction to C. parvum.