Preliminary characterization of inflammatory infiltrates in response to Rickettsia prowazekii reinfection in man: immunohistology
Dumler, J.S.; Wisseman, C.L.
Acta Virologica 36(1): 45-51
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-723X PMID: 1350171 Document Number: 390254
The local perivascular mononuclear cell inflammatory infiltrate (PVI) response to intradermal challenge with viable R. prowazekii was studied in a typhus-immune human subject. An immunohistochemical method for specific mononuclear cell markers was used on skin punch biopsies taken 6, 24 and 48 h after challenge. By 24 to 48 h, the histologic findings were consistent with a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction (DTHR). Bth CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes dominated the PVI at 48 h. CD8+ cells entered the PVI more rapidly than CD4+ cells. Local control of R. prowazekii challenge in an immune human subject was associated with recruitment into the PVI of T lymphocytes which are risk sources of gamma -interferon, and CD8+ T cell which are potentially cytotoxic for R. typhi-infected cells.