Mycoplasma Pneumoniae - Stimulation of Lymphocytes Obtained From Adenoid Vegetations and Blood in Children With and Without Serological Evidence of Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Infection

Abstract

Thymidine incorporation in lymphocytes obtained from adenoids (AVL) and blood (PBL) and stimulated in vitro with Myoplasma (M.) pneumoniae antigen, was determined in 16 children with serological indication of a current or recent M.pneumoniae infection, and in 14 controls. Both AVL and PBL gave higher responses in the M.pneumoniae‐positive group than in the control group. The best discrimination between the two groups was achieved by AVL stimulated by M.pneumoniae at a high antigen concentration. Whilst PBL in the control group showed some responsiveness to M.pneumoniae, AVL did not respond, indicating that in this assay recent or actual M.pneumoniae infection is better expressed by AVL than by PBL.

SPECIFICITY OF LYMPHOCYTE STIMULATION IN VITRO BY MICROBIAL PREPARATIONS: IMPORTANCE OF ANTIGEN CONCENTRATION

“…Finally, the source of lymphocytes may be of impoftance; in the present study, lymphocytes obtained from the blood were employed, but lymphocytes obtained from local lymphoid tissue have supplied further information concerning cellular immunity (9).…”