Recovery from T cell depletion during murine listeriosis and effect on a T-dependent antibody response.

During the infection of mice with Listeria monocytogenes, there is a profound depletion of T (Thy-1+ Ig-) lymphocytes between days 1 and 4, followed by an increase in T cells to three times normal levels by day 9. The recovery of T cell numbers required cell proliferation, being sensitive to vinblastin and cyclophosphamide. Adult thymectomy 6 months before infection had no effect on recovery. The repopulating cells were no more sensitive than normal T cells to hydrocortisone. B lymphocytes (Ig+ cells) and null (Thy-1-Ig-) cells increased from day 1 after the injection of either live or (in contrast to T cells) killed Listeria organisms. Their increase was inhibited by vinblastin and cyclophosphamide. Despite T cell depletion, no depression of the antibody response to the T-dependent antigen, sheep erythrocytes, occurred during infection or when spleen cells were adoptively transferred from infected mice to irradiated recipients.