THE PROLIFERATION OF HUMAN T-LYMPHOCYTES STIMULATED BY HELICOBACTER-PYLORI ANTIGENS

Fractionated mononuclear cells (MNCs) were obtained from peripheral bl ood of healthy human volunteers, seronegative for H. pylori antibodies . The MNCs were stimulated in culture with whole live or heat-killed H . pylori cells or with bacterial cell surface (SA) or cytoplasmic (CA) antingens. There was a marked proliferative response of T cells in cu ltures stimulated with 10(5) cells/well of live H. pylori, 5 mu g/well of CA or 5-20 mu g/well of SA. However, no proliferation was observed in MNC cultures containing higher ''doses'' of live H. pylori organis ms (10(7)/well) or CA (20 mu/well). Moreover, higher ''doses'' of the bacteria or CA entirely inhibited the response of T cells to PHA.