RESUMO
The behaviour of M. leprae in fat tissue was studied. Preadipocyte cells were infected with M. leprae and injected intradermally (I.D.) into nude mice. Adipose nodules obtained by in vivo differentiation of infected cells were maintained in vivo for 3 months and subsequently incubated in vitro for 3 months. Counts of bacilli showed no increase over this 6 months period. It is concluded that undifferentiated preadipocyte and mature fat cells are not permissive for M. leprae. The morphological changes observed following passage of M. leprae into adipose nodules might be related to the process of adipose cell differentiation.
Assuntos
Tecido Adiposo/citologia , Tecido Adiposo/microbiologia , Técnicas Bacteriológicas , Mycobacterium leprae/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Animais , Contagem de Células , Diferenciação Celular , Linhagem Celular Transformada , Meios de Cultura , Técnicas de Cultura , Injeções Intradérmicas , Camundongos , Camundongos Nus , Mycobacterium leprae/ultraestruturaRESUMO
Studies were carried out to determine the effects of treatment with killed suspensions of Propionibacterium acnes (formerly designated Corynebacterium parvum) on the course of Mycobacterium leprae infection in mice. Systemic (intravenous or intraperitoneal) treatment with P. acnes failed to significantly alter the growth of M. leprae in the mouse footpad. In contrast, injections of P. acnes directly into the infected footpad markedly inhibited the growth of the leprosy bacilli regardless of whether the local treatments were administered before infection or 3 months after infection with M. leprae. The effects of local treatment with P. acnes appeared to be bactericidal and not merely bacteriostatic. Clearance of the organism from the tissues was not enhanced by P. acnes treatment.
Assuntos
Hanseníase/microbiologia , Mycobacterium leprae/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Propionibacterium acnes/fisiologia , Tecido Adiposo/microbiologia , Animais , Pé , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Fatores de TempoRESUMO
Evidence is presented that the high susceptibility of armadillos to infection with Mycobacterium leprae cannot be explained solely in terms of body temperature because mutant mice maintained with a body temperature similar to that of armadillos do not become heavily infected with M. leprae. The depression of cell-mediated immunity accompanying the low body temperature is not sufficient to produce an overwhelming infection. The results obtained with M. marinum suggest that whereas lack of cell-mediated immunity or a low body temperature result in a moderately enhanced infection in the mouse a combination of both of these factors is required to produce an overwhelming infection involving the internal organs.