STUDIES ON LYSOSOMAL RESPONSE TO TPBERCULOUS INFECTION IN MICE

An attempt was made to compare the antimycobacterial fraction of the spleen and lung lysosomal components between normal and tuberculous mice. The results indicated that the yield of spleen mycobactericidal fraction increased after infection in terms of tissue weight and more markedly in terms of organ, and that the fraction was highly active in reducing viable counts in acidic buffer environment. As for the corresponding fraction of the lungs, the rate of infection-induced increase was not so marked as the previous case, besides the fractin was much less active even in the higher protein concentration than the spleen sample. These observations were compatible with the finding that tubercle bacilli could multiply and persist more freely in the lungs than in the spleen. In addition, it was demonstrated that tubercle bacilli exposed in vitro to the spleen antimycobacterial fraction were less infective when they were injected into mice. The significance of lysosomal response was discussed in relation to tuberculous infection and immunity. © 1968, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases Editorial Committee. All rights reserved.