The effect of cyclophosphamide on the recovery from a local chlamydial infection. Guinea-pig inclusion conjunctivitis (GPIC).

The immune mechanism involved in the recovery from and resistance to guinea-pig inclusion conjunctivitis (GPIC) was studied. Guinea-pigs were injected with a dose of cyclophosphamide (CY) (300 mg/kg wt) that inhibits antibody synthesis. Such treatment was shown to produce a cellular depletion in the B-cell area without producing an appreciable change in the T-cell area of the spleen and lymph nodes. CY treatment markedly delayed the appearance of secretory immunoglobulin A antibody to GPIC in the tears, and other classes of antibodies to GPIC and sheep erythrocyte in the serum. Furthermore, recovery from infection was impaired and a subsequent injection of CY prolonged the duration of infection. The results indicate that B cells may play an important role in the control of this infection.