Immunohistochemical analysis of Lyme disease in the skin of naive and infection-immune rabbits following challenge

Citation
C. Chong-cerrillo et al., Immunohistochemical analysis of Lyme disease in the skin of naive and infection-immune rabbits following challenge, INFEC IMMUN, 69(6), 2001, pp. 4094-4102
Citations number
47
Categorie Soggetti
Immunology
Journal title
INFECTION AND IMMUNITY
ISSN journal
00199567 → ACNP
Volume
69
Issue
6
Year of publication
2001
Pages
4094 - 4102
Database
ISI
SICI code
0019-9567(200106)69:6<4094:IAOLDI>2.0.ZU;2-O
Abstract
In this study, skin histopathology from naive and infection-derived immune rabbits was compared following intradermal challenge using Borrelia burgdor feri B31 strain. The presence or absence of spirochetes in relationship to host cellular immune responses was determined from the time of intradermal inoculation to the time of erythema migrans (EM) development (similar to7 d ays in naive rabbits) and through development of challenge immunity (simila r to5 months in naive rabbits). Skin biopsies were obtained and analyzed fo r the presence of spirochetes, B cells, T cells, polymorphonuclear cells (P MNs), and macrophages by immunohistochemical techniques. In infected naive animals, morphologically identifiable spirochetes were detected at 2 h and up to 3 weeks postinfection, At 12 and 24 h postinfection there was a marke d PMN response that decreased by 36 to 48 h; by 72 h the PMNs were replaced by a few infiltrating macrophages, At the time of EM development and 14 da ys postinfection, the PMNs and macrophages were replaced by a lymphocytic i nfiltrate, There was a greater number of spirochetes at 14 days, a time whe n EM had resolved, than at 7 days postinfection. By 3 weeks postinfection t here were few organisms and lymphocytes detectable. In contrast to infected naive rabbits, intact spirochetes were never visualized in skin biopsies f rom infection-immune rabbits; only spirochetal antigen was detected at 2, 1 2, and 24 h in the presence of a numerous PMN infiltrate. By 36 h postchall enge, spirochetal antigen could not be detected and the PMN response was re placed by a few infiltrating macrophages. By 72 h postchallenge, PMNs and m acrophages were absent from the skin; B and T cells were never detected at any time point in skin from infection-immune rabbits,The destruction of spi rochetes in immune animals in the presence of PMNs and in the absence of a lymphocytic infiltrate suggests that infection-derived immunity is antibody mediated.