Immune suppression and induction of gamma interferon by pertussis toxin

Infect Immun. 1985 Jul;49(1):90-7. doi: 10.1128/iai.49.1.90-97.1985.

Abstract

It has been suggested that pertussis toxin is a virulence factor of Bordetella pertussis. Although extracts enriched in pertussis toxin activity have been reported to enhance immune responsiveness, other studies have demonstrated a suppressive ability, suggesting that the toxin may contribute to the virulence of B. pertussis through mechanisms involving immune suppression. We report that purified pertussis toxin suppressed the in vitro immunoglobulin M antibody response of mouse splenocytes to sheep erythrocytes. At submitogenic doses, the toxin also suppressed [3H]thymidine incorporation by splenocytes, suggesting that it interfered with antibody formation by inhibiting lymphocyte proliferation. Antiviral activity was detected in culture supernatants obtained from pertussis toxin-suppressed splenocyte cultures by using a cytopathic effect inhibition assay. This antiviral activity was virus nonspecific, sensitive to pH 2.0 treatment, stable to heating at 56 degrees C, and neutralized by anti-gamma interferon antiserum. Finally, the fractionation of splenocytes by anti-immunoglobulin panning techniques suggested that Lyt2+ lymphocytes proliferated in response to pertussis toxin and produced interferon. Our results suggest that pertussis toxin may contribute to the virulence of B. pertussis through stimulation of Lyt2+ lymphocytes, resulting in the induction of gamma interferon and the subsequent inhibition of the primary antibody response.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibody Formation / drug effects*
  • Antigens, Ly / immunology
  • Bacterial Toxins / pharmacology*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Erythrocytes / immunology
  • Female
  • Immune Tolerance / drug effects*
  • Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis*
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects
  • Mice
  • Pertussis Toxin
  • Spleen / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Virulence Factors, Bordetella
  • Virus Replication / drug effects

Substances

  • Antigens, Ly
  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Virulence Factors, Bordetella
  • Interferon-gamma
  • Pertussis Toxin