Selective response of lymphocytes from Treponema pallidum-infected rabbits to mitogens and Treponema reiteri.

The in vitro response of peripheral blood lymphocytes from rabbit infected with Treponema pallidum was examined using various mitogens and avirulent Treponema reiteri. For the first 4 weeks after treponemal infection, the response of lymphocytes from syphilitic rabbits to phytohemagglutinin and pokeweed mitogen was markedly reduced in comparison to uninfected controls. Lymphocytes from both groups of rabbits responded normally to class-specific immunoglobulin anti-sera (anti-immunoglobulin M and anti-immunoglobulin G) and T. reiteri.