The resistance of C57BL/6 mice to subcutaneous infection with Mycobacterium lepraemurium is dependent on both T cells and other cells of bone marrow origin

Abstract

Thymectomized or sham-thymectomized C57BL/6 mice were irradiated and reconstituted with either C57BL/6 bone marrow cells or bone marrow cells from H-2 matched BALB/B mice. The ability to limit organism multiplication at the site of infection in response to a moderate dose of Mycobacterium lepraemurium is shown to be T-cell mediated and not dependent on the type of bone marrow cells used for reconstitution. Dissemination of the organisms on the other hand appeared to be dependent on both T cells and cells of bone marrow origin.