Induction of Autoimmune Diseases with Adjuvants: Separation of Delayed Hypersensitivity and Antibody Formation from Diseases in Experimental Thyroiditis and Aspermatogenesis withiLegionella/iAdjuvant

摘要

The induction of autoimmune diseases in animals was studied with Legionella and mycobacteria as adjuvants, emulsified in oil with antigen extracts of thyroid, testis, spinal cord, and peripheral nerve. Both adjuvants were equally effective in inducing delayed hypersensitivity and humoral antibody to the tissue antigens. The Legionella adjuvant, however, induced little or no thyroiditis and aspermatogenesis, whereas the mycobacterial adjuvant induced thyroiditis and aspermatogenesis. Both adjuvants caused allergic encephalomyelitis and peripheral neuritis. The results indicated that delayed hypersensitivity by itself may not be sufficient to cause thyroiditis and aspermatogenesis. Legionella adjuvant apparently lacked the ability to induce certain immune factor(s) which caused the disease in experimental thyroiditis and aspermatogenesis. The differential properties of Legionella adjuvant and mycobacterial adjuvant in inducing immunity to autoantigens could provide a useful means to study the pathogenic and immunoregulatory mechanisms of some experimental autoimmune diseases.