Experimental hypersensitivity pneumonitis: influence of Th2 bias

Cultured murine CD4+ cells from Saccharopolyspora rectivirgula sensitized C 3H/HeJ (Thl bias) donors can adoptively transfer murine experimental hypers ensitivity pneumonitis (EHP). We sensitized BALB/c mice (Th2 bias) with S. rectivirgula, obtained spleen and lung associated lymph node (LALN) cells, cultured the cells with specific antigen, and attempted adoptive transfer o f EHP. We also treated both C3H/HeJ and BALB/c donor mice with IL4 and anti -IFN gamma before exposure to S. rectivirgula and then cultured cells from both spleen and LALN before attempted transfer of EHP. We found that cultur ed spleen and lung associated lymph node cells can adoptively transfer EHP in both C3H/HeJ and BALB/c mice as demonstrated by infiltration of the reci pient lungs with CD4+ lymphocytes. Treatment of both mouse strains with IL4 and anti-IFN gamma did not change the ability of cultured cells to adoptiv ely transfer EHP. We conclude that EHP induced by S. rectivirgula can occur in animals with either a Thl or a Th2 bias and is not altered by treatment with IL4 and anti-IFN gamma. This suggests that attributes of the antigen and not genetic background or cytokine environment at the site of initial s ensitization determines the results of exposure to S. rectivirgula.