Resistance to 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide of T cells involved in cell mediated antibacterial immunity.

4-Hydroperoxycyclophosphamide is a derivative of cyclophosphamide which in vitro is converted into an active metabolite of cyclophosphamide. This compound was used to define the relative susceptibilities of T cells involved in the immune response of mice to the intracellular pathogen, Listeria monocytogenes. L. monocytogenes-specific T cell proliferation and interleukin production in vitro, as well as adoptive protection and delayed-type hypersensitivity in vivo, all proved to be markedly resistant to the action of 4-hydroperoxy-cyclophosphamide, indicating a great homogeneity within the cellular immune response to intracellular pathogens.