Abstract
We showed previously that type specific monoclonal antibodies of IgM and IgG2a isotypes afford excellent protection against group B streptococcal (GBS) infection in a neonatal rat model. The protective efficacy of these antibodies is associated with an enhanced neutrophil response in neonatal rats. In the present studies we investigated splenic, hepatic and lung uptake of type III GBS opsonized with125I labelled IgM or IgG2a monoclonal antibodies using neonatal as well as 8 and 17 day old rats. After inoculation of antibody treated GBS, 48 hour old rats demonstrated predominantly splenic uptake, greatest from 30 minutes to 4 hours. Little uptake occurred in the liver or lung at any time point. For infected 8 day rats, the spleen was the major site of uptake at 30 minutes but hepatic uptake predominated at 2 and 4 hours. Seventeen day rats, which are resistant to overwhelming GBS infection, demonstrated radiolabelled antibody treated bacterial uptake in equal amounts in the spleen, liver and lung at each time point. In contrast to younger rats, 17 day rats had peak uptake by 2 hours followed by a rapid decline at 4 and 8 hours postinfection. These studies indicate that the reticuloendothelial system is a major site for phagocytic clearance of GBS in neonatal rats and that it functions less efficiently than in older rats who do not die from GBS infection.
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Shigeoka, A., Bathras, J., Pincus, S. et al. RETICULOENDOTHELIAL CLEARANCE OF TYPE III GROUP B STREPTOCOCCI OPSONIZED WITH TYPE III SPECIFIC MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES OF IgM OR IgG2a ISOTYPES IN AN EXPERIMENTAL RAT MODEL. Pediatr Res 21 (Suppl 4), 334 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-01002
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-01002