Abstract
The effect of subcutanecus injection of Corynebacterium parvum($700{\mu}g$) on cellular and humoral immune responses when given at various time relative to sheep red blood cell(SRBC) sensitization were studied by the evaluation of Arthus, delayed-type hypersensitivity(DTH), rosette forming cell, hemagglutinin and hemolysin reactions. Arthus reactivity(3 hours) developed in control mice and test mice pretreated with C. parvum 8 days prior to intravenous sensitization with SRBC were similar. However, there was slight depression of reactivity when C. parvum was given subcutaneoutly(s.c.) 4 or 2 days prior to SRBC sensitization. Arthus reactivity was significantly depressed when C. parvum was given s.c. either at the same time as, or 2 days later than, antigen. DTH reaction was net depressed significantly when C. parvum was injected 8 or 2 days prior to SRBC sensitization or at the same time as antigen. In contrast DTH was significantly augmented when C. parvum given s.c. 4 days prier to SRBC sensitization. DTH was depressed when C. parvum was given s.c. 2 days after antigen. No significant change occurred in rosette forming percetages of spleen cell when C. parvum was given s.c. 8, 4 or 2 days before SRBC sensitization. In contrast, a significant reduction in percentages of rosette forming cell occurred when C. parvum was given s.c. either at the same time as, or 2 days later than, antigen. Serum hemaggulutinin and hemolysin titers were not significantly affected by subcutaneous injection of C. parvum regardless of time relative to SRBC sensitization. However, mercaptoethanol-resistant hemaggulutinin and hemolysin(IgG) titers were somewhat augmented when C. parvum was given 2 days after antigen. It is concluded from these results that depending on the time and route of inoculation, C. parvum can enhance or depress immune responses in mice, suggesting the time and route of C. parvum inoculation is an important point of concern about clinical use of C. parvum for the treatment of cancer.
(Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Jeonbug National University, Medical School)
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