The functional significance of multiple cells--among lymphoid and nonlymphoid cells--capable of having Ia molecules on their membranes must be critically addressed. Ia is absolutely required before a cell can interact with helper T cells, but it is not clear whether the presence of this protein is all that is needed for antigen presentation. Indeed, at present, except for the macrophage, few cells have been studied for antigen presentation using a wide range of protein antigens, either soluble or particulate. On the basis of the studies discussed in the first section, it appears that the recruitment of most helper-T cell clones takes place by APC that can internalize and process the protein antigens, be they soluble or part of the structure of microorganisms. The fact that helper T cells are programmed to recognize antigen in the context of Ia, and therefore on an APC such as the macrophage, forces recognition of antigens that are altered or processed. Indeed, proteins in their native state may not remain membrane-bound for long periods; the T cells, therefore, have the opportunity to recognize the altered fragments. To this issue is added the requirement for the T-cell receptor to interact with Ia molecules. The available information, therefore, leads one to conclude that APC deficient in their capacity to internalize and process proteins will not be able to present them. The finding that small peptides from a previous catabolism of proteins can be presented without further handling implies that APC with limited processing capacity could be involved in presentation of such small peptides. The different Ia-positive APC of the lymphoid organs may interact to different extents with protein antigens and collaborate with each other to bring about an effective stimulation of the clones of helper T cells. The macrophage, being the most ubiquitous cell and the one capable of interacting with many proteins, is our candidate as the major APC involved in the recruitment and enlargement of clones T cells. The observations that macrophages can release proteins partially altered implies that there may be cooperativity among the various APC. Data for this have been obtained. Most likely B cells will be found to have a limited capacity to present all antigens because of their inherent difficulties in internalizing large particulate materials. In such instances, B cells may interact with the solubilized proteins released by the macrophages. The same may apply to the Langerhans/dendritic cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Antigen-Presenting Function of the Macrophage

Publisher Summary Changes in antigen molecules that resulted in enhanced or decreased uptake by the phagocytes resulted in higher or lower immune responses, respectively. After the development of methodologies for obtaining live exudate cells rich in phagocytes and for pulsing these with antigen, the immune response to macrophage-associated antigens was possible to assay, using combinations of in vivo and in vitro methods. The presentation of antigen bound to live macrophages to the lymphocytes was a highly efficient mode of generating an immune response. In the marine system, the requirement for phagocytes or other acc|essory cells was such that as little as 1% contamination with phagocytes still enabled a T-cell proliferative response to develop. Thus, depletion procedures had to be extremely efficient. Macrophages are definitely involved in some response to many of the conventional polyclonal stimuli. Involvement of the macrophage may be by way of secreted active molecule. Fc fragments of Ig act as a polyclonal stimulant only after a processing of the fragment by the macrophages. The developments in macrophage biology over the past few years were not predicted till 1972.

The regulatory role of macrophages in antigenic stimulation. Part Two: symbiotic relationship between lymphocytes and macrophages.

Protozoans of the genus Leishmania are obligate intracellular parasites that cycle between the midgut of sandflies and the phagolysosomes of mammalian macrophages and therefore are exposed to extreme environmental changes. Recent evidence obtained from in vitro experiments indicate that such environmental changes trigger a developmental program in the parasites. Thus, following heat shock, promastigotes from certain Leishmania species differentiate to amastigotes. Promastigotes also respond to acidification of their environment by changing the expression of a number of genes. However, the combination of both low pH and high temperature induces the transformation of the promastigote to the amastigote in all Leishmania species examined to date. This review discusses the role of pH and heat shock in gene regulation and its contribution to the differentiation processes in Leishmania spp. Cycling between cold-blooded insect vectors and the warm-blooded mammalian host is not unique to Leishmania spp., but typical to most parasitic protozoa. It is therefore likely that the mechanism of stress-induced differentiation is shared by other mammalian parasites.

The Role of pH and Temperature in the Development of Leishmania Parasites

A new method is described which has made possible the long-term axenic cultivation of Leishmania mexicana amastigote-like forms in Schneider's Drosophila medium supplemented with 20% (v/v) foetal calf serum Unlike previous methods, it utilizes direct culture of parasites obtained from the lesions of infected animals rather than adaptation of promastigotes in vitro Ultrastructural (possession of megasomes), biochemical (cysteine proteinase activity and gelatin SDS-PAGE banding pattern) and infectivity (in vivo) data are presented which show the close similarity of the cultured forms to lesion amastigotes The axenically cultured forms grew optimally at a temperature of 32-33 degrees C, providing further evidence for their amastigote nature It was found that adjustment of the pH of the growth medium to 54 was required in order to retain the amastigote morphology of the cultured parasites This supports the notion that leishmanial amastigotes are acidophiles

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Axenic cultivation and characterization of Leishmania mexicana amastigote-like forms.

Life in vacuoles--nutrient acquisition by Leishmania amastigotes.

Leishmania mexicana: comparative fine structure of amastigotes and promastigotes in vitro and in vivo.

Trypanosoma cruzi: ultrastructure of morphogenesis in vitro and in vivo.

Marked increase in Ia-bearing macrophages during Trypanosoma cruzi infection.

Case Report: Leishmanial Infections: A Consideration in Travellers Returning from Abroad

Schistosomiasis has been described as “one of the most devastating diseases of mankind, second only to malaria in its deleterious effects on the social and economic development of populations in many warm areas of the world.” The disease is world-wide and is conservatively estimated to affect 300 million people (McCulley et al., 1976).

Steve C. Pan

Papers

Leishmania mexicana: comparative fine structure of amastigotes and promastigotes in vitro and in vivo.

Trypanosoma cruzi: ultrastructure of morphogenesis in vitro and in vivo.

Marked increase in Ia-bearing macrophages during Trypanosoma cruzi infection.

Case Report: Leishmanial Infections: A Consideration in Travellers Returning from Abroad

Structure of “Sensory” Nerves and Serotonin-Like Immunofluorescent Activity in Schistosoma Mansoni Miracidia and Cercariae