CD4+ T cells are required for antigen-specific recruitment of neutrophils by BCG-immune spleen cells.

Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-immune spleen cells co-inoculated into the peritoneal cavity of normal mice with BCG sonicate protein as antigen could induce an antigen-specific recruitment of neutrophils, dependent on the antigen dose and cell number. This response was significantly reduced by anti-T lymphocyte and anti-CD4 treatment of the immune spleen cells prior to the inoculation. Removal of adherent or phagocytic cells or lysis of B cells, had no significant effect. Killing of dividing cells in the splenic population induced a slight reduction in the ability of spleen cells to recruit neutrophils. M. avium sonicate protein was also able to induce BCG-immune spleen cells to mobilize neutrophils but bovine serum albumin, Listeria monocytogenes cytosolic protein and 65,000 MW heat shock protein were not. These results show that CD4+ T cells are able to induce neutrophil recruitment in an antigen-specific way during a mycobacterial infection.