Arthritogenicity of Mycobacterium smegmatis subfractions, related to different oil vehicle and different composition.

Arthrigenicity of Mycobacterium smegmatis subfractions appeared to be remarkably potentiated in oil vehicles such as squalane or mineral oil, while water-in-oil emulsions containing Arlacel A appeared to decrease or suppress their arthritogenicity. It seems that Arlacel A can exert a suppressive effect on the arthritogenicity of the subfractions. Poly I:C and acetylated wax D potentiated the arthritogenicity of lysozyme-solubilized product, while cord factor was unable to do so. When given together with either cell membrane fraction or cell envelope, the lysozyme-solubilized product produced much more severe disease than that of lysozyme-solubilized product alone. Cell walls lost much of their arthritogenicity when mixed with lysozyme-solubilized product.