Immunomodulatory effect of Listeria monocytogenes infection. I. Allotransplantation reaction in infected mice.

The rejection reaction of skin graft in Listeria monocytogenes infected mice was examined in the allogeneic system: recipient Balb/c mice (haplotype H-2d) and donor G3H mice (haplotype H-2k). It was observed that this reaction was significantly potentiated when skin allograft was transplanted in the period of the highest monocytosis and the strongest delayed type hypersensitivity to Listeria monocytogenes antigen in the infected recipients. This finding suggests that the allotransplantation reaction in Listeria monocytogenes infected organism may be intensified by the activated monocyte-macrophage lineage cells cooperating with the lymphocytes sensitized to Listeria antigen.