Treponemicidal activity of anti-treponemal lymphotoxins and their relation to circulating immune complexes and autolymphocytotoxins

Podwińska, J; Chomik, M

doi:10.1111/j.1574-6968.1992.tb05015.x

“…It is also known that in some periods of experimental syphilis, induced in rabbits, this form of immunological response is distinctly inhibited [1^3]. It was observed as a diminished ability of lymphocytes to produce migration inhibition factor (MIF), which a¡ects various anti-microbial functions [4] and anti-treponemal lymphotoxin (ATL) [5], which kills treponemes both in vitro [6,7] and in vivo [8]. We have also found a distinct weakening of the ability to mount delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction in rabbits infected with Treponema pallidum [9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The pattern and level of cytokines secreted by Th1 and Th2 lymphocytes of syphilitic patients correlate to the progression of the disease

Podwińska

¹

2000

FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The results of our previous work indicated that cell-mediated immune response, of importance in protection against Treponema pallidum, is distinctly inhibited at certain periods of syphilitic infection. Considering that cytokines, produced by Th1 lymphocytes, take part in this response and that their secretion may be regulated by cytokines of Th2 lymphocytes, we examined if, and in which stages of syphilis, such a regulation may exist. In this study we have examined the ability of cells to produce IL-2, IFN and TNF (Th1 or Th1 like cytokines) as well as IL-6 and IL-10 (Th2 or Th2 like cytokines). It was found that cells of syphilitic patients were able to produce IL-2, IFN, TNF, IL-10 and weakly IL-6 already in primary seronegative syphilis. At the same stage of syphilis, but seropositive, ability of Th1 lymphocytes to produce cytokines reached the highest values, whereas the cells producing IL-10 lost this ability. The cells producing IL-6 and MIF had the highest ability in secondary early syphilis. In this stage of syphilis again slightly increased the ability of cells to secrete IL-10, which reached the highest value in early latent syphilis. The growing ability to produce IL-6 and IL-10 was accompanied with a diminished production of IL-2, IFN and TNF nearly in all stages of syphilis. Only MIF, in contrast to other cytokines, was produced in late syphilis without distinct changes. The greatest suppression of Th1 lymphocytes to produce cytokines and cells to secretion of MIF was found in early latent syphilis when the level of IL-10 in cell culture supernates was the highest. High ability of Th2 lymphocytes to cytokines secretion in late syphilis and low ability of Th1 ones, which are very important for cell-mediated immune response, may be the reason for facilitating T. pallidum multiplication and development of latent stages of disease despite presence of immunologically competent cells.

show abstract

“…It is also known that in some periods of experimental syphilis, induced in rabbits, this form of immunological response is distinctly inhibited [1–3]. It was observed as a diminished ability of lymphocytes to produce migration inhibition factor (MIF), which affects various anti‐microbial functions [4] and anti‐treponemal lymphotoxin (ATL) [5], which kills treponemes both in vitro [6,7] and in vivo [8]. We have also found a distinct weakening of the ability to mount delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction in rabbits infected with Treponema pallidum [9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The pattern and level of cytokines secreted by Th1 and Th2 lymphocytes of syphilitic patients correlate to the progression of the disease

Podwińska

¹

,

Łusiak

²

,

Żaba³

et al. 2000

FEMS Immunology &Amp; Medical Microbiology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The results of our previous work indicated that cell-mediated immune response, of importance in protection against Treponema pallidum, is distinctly inhibited at certain periods of syphilitic infection. Considering that cytokines, produced by Th1 lymphocytes, take part in this response and that their secretion may be regulated by cytokines of Th2 lymphocytes, we examined if, and in which stages of syphilis, such a regulation may exist. In this study we have examined the ability of cells to produce IL-2, IFN and TNF (Th1 or Th1 like cytokines) as well as IL-6 and IL-10 (Th2 or Th2 like cytokines). It was found that cells of syphilitic patients were able to produce IL-2, IFN, TNF, IL-10 and weakly IL-6 already in primary seronegative syphilis. At the same stage of syphilis, but seropositive, ability of Th1 lymphocytes to produce cytokines reached the highest values, whereas the cells producing IL-10 lost this ability. The cells producing IL-6 and MIF had the highest ability in secondary early syphilis. In this stage of syphilis again slightly increased the ability of cells to secrete IL-10, which reached the highest value in early latent syphilis. The growing ability to produce IL-6 and IL-10 was accompanied with a diminished production of IL-2, IFN and TNF nearly in all stages of syphilis. Only MIF, in contrast to other cytokines, was produced in late syphilis without distinct changes. The greatest suppression of Th1 lymphocytes to produce cytokines and cells to secretion of MIF was found in early latent syphilis when the level of IL-10 in cell culture supernates was the highest. High ability of Th2 lymphocytes to cytokines secretion in late syphilis and low ability of Th1 ones, which are very important for cell-mediated immune response, may be the reason for facilitating T. pallidum multiplication and development of latent stages of disease despite presence of immunologically competent cells.

show abstract

“…Taking into consideration that IL-2 acts via interaction with a specific high-affinity receptor (IL-2R), suppression of IL-2 absorption observed in our study may be a result of weak IL-2R expression. In consequence, cellmediated immune response and immunity against T. pallidum infection may be impaired where T and B lymphocytes produce anti-treponemal lymphotoxin [7,24].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The ability of peripheral blood mononuclear cells of rabbits infected with Treponema pallidum to produce IL-2

Podwinska¹

1993

FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

It was previously found that the cell-mediated immune response involved in protection against Treponema pallidum is distinctly suppressed during some periods in the course of syphilis infection in rabbits. This may be a result of the weak ability of cells to produce Interleukin-2 (IL-2) as well as of IL-2 absorption. The ability of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of syphilitic rabbits to produce IL-2 develops within the first two weeks after infection reaching a maximum in about the eleventh week. In infection of longer duration, this capability was distinctly lowered. This low level of activity (no higher than in PBMC of normal rabbits) was maintained for 31 weeks. The ability of PBMC to absorb IL-2, in parallel with its production, was found at the same time in the course of syphilis infection (7-11 weeks). In long-lasting syphilis (more than 12 weeks) both abilities seem to be inhibited. Sera of syphilitic rabbits were found to have a higher level of IL-2 inhibitor than those of normal rabbits. Only in syphilis lasting 9 to 11 weeks, when the production of IL-2 was the greatest, was the level of IL-2 inhibitor nearly the same as in normal rabbit sera. In syphilis lasting longer, the increased level of inhibitor was accompanied by a decreased ability of cells to produce IL-2. These findings suggest that IL-2 inhibitor may be bound to IL-2 or IL-2 receptor on T lymphocytes and in this way would lead to weakening of T cell function and resistance against Treponema pallidum infection.

show abstract

Treponemicidal activity of anti-treponemal lymphotoxins and their relation to circulating immune complexes and autolymphocytotoxins

Cited by 7 publications

References 12 publications

The pattern and level of cytokines secreted by Th1 and Th2 lymphocytes of syphilitic patients correlate to the progression of the disease

The pattern and level of cytokines secreted by Th1 and Th2 lymphocytes of syphilitic patients correlate to the progression of the disease

The pattern and level of cytokines secreted by Th1 and Th2 lymphocytes of syphilitic patients correlate to the progression of the disease

The ability of peripheral blood mononuclear cells of rabbits infected with Treponema pallidum to produce IL-2

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About